A significant bilateral meeting took place at the headquarters of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) in Istanbul, where Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan met with TFF President Ibrahim Ethem Hacosmanolu. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the development of football between their respective nations.
During the discussions, Sports Adviser Bhuiyan highlighted the recent resurgence of football in Bangladesh, including the exciting inclusion of players of Bangladeshi descent in the national team. He also spoke about ongoing efforts to establish a more sustainable football ecosystem within Bangladesh. Noting the considerable fan base of the Turkish national team in Bangladesh, Bhuiyan proposed organizing a friendly match between the two countries’ national teams as a means to further deepen sports-related ties and foster stronger bonds between their peoples.
TFF President Hacosmanolu warmly welcomed the proposal. He indicated that, if all logistical arrangements proceed smoothly, a friendly match between the women’s national teams of Bangladesh and Turkey could be organized as early as August. Furthermore, the TFF President assured comprehensive support for the development of Bangladesh’s football infrastructure, which will include crucial technical assistance, training programs for coaches and referees, expertise in sports medicine, and various experience-sharing initiatives.
At one point in the meeting, Sports Adviser Bhuiyan took the opportunity to praise Turkey’s “bold and humanitarian leadership in the Muslim world,” specifically acknowledging the significant role of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The meeting concluded with the Adviser extending an invitation to the TFF President to attend the upcoming Global Youth Summit, scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in September. Both parties expressed their strong confidence that this meeting marks the beginning of a new and productive chapter in Bangladesh-Turkey sports cooperation, anticipating deeper and more fruitful engagements in the days ahead.
