Understanding the Legacy of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Turkey on Bangladesh Politics

Abstract

This commentary discusses Bangladesh’s interactions with Middle East countries, particularly focusing on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Turkey. Although Bangladesh’s relations with the GCC are seemingly and dominantly economic, there is a significant level of cultural interconnectedness as well, especially with Saudi Arabia. In Bangladesh–Turkey relations, there is also a similar type of cultural attachment operating via each country’s religious identities. This attachment, especially in the last decade, was bolstered by deepening cooperation in counterterrorism activities and further economic interactions. The interactions with these Middle Eastern countries are not only important to Bangladesh’s foreign policy and economy but also to assuage some domestic tensions.