From TV dramas to diplomacy, Bangladesh-Turkey ties are ‘growing stronger’
The success of Turkish shows in Bangladesh mirrors shifting alliances and expanding relations between the two Muslim-majority nations
In a recording studio in Dhaka, voice-over artist Rubaiya Matin Gity dubs the latest Turkish soap opera to become a megahit in Bangladesh – a pop culture trend that reflects growing ties between the two countries.
“Yasmeen! Yasmeen! I have fallen in love ...” the 32-year-old actor cried in Bangla, her eyes fixed on the screen playing new episodes of the Turkish drama Kara Sevda, or Endless Love, which has captivated millions of viewers in the South Asian nation.
The success of Turkish shows, challenging the once unrivalled popularity of Indian television dramas, is the sign of a change that extends far beyond Bangladeshi screens.
It mirrors shifting alliances and expanding diplomatic, trade and defence relations between the two Muslim-majority nations, 5,000km (3,000 miles) apart.
More Turkish restaurants are opening in Bangladesh and there is a general interest in learning the language, coupled with rekindled warmth between the two governments, set against increasingly fractious relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.