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Published : 21 Jun 2026, 03:04 PM
Tarique Rahman has departed for Malaysia, his first official visit since being elected prime minister.
The premier left Dhaka on a special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 2:45pm on Sunday, said the Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman.
He said, "Prime Minister Mr Tarique Rahman is going to Malaysia for his first state visit. This is a two-day visit."
"The honourable prime minister is accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman. The prime minister's entourage is very small."
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and other senior government officials saw off the prime minister at the Shahjalal International Airport.
Tarique took the reins as prime minister after his BNP party won an absolute majority in the national election on Feb 12.
Now, five months later, he is leaving for his first foreign tour.
The premier’s companions on the trip include Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, State Minister for Energy and Power Anindya Islam Amit, the Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Humaiun Kobir, Overseas Employment Advisor Mahadi Amin, Defence Advisor AKM Shamsul Islam, and others.
On Saturday, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam outlined the schedule of Tarique’s six-day tour to Malaysia and China.
He said that there is a possibility of signing two agreements with Malaysia – one on cultural exchange and the other on free trade -- during the visit to Kuala Lumpur.
Siam said the prime minister will receive a formal reception in Malaysia upon his arrival on Sunday.
A private meeting will be held between Tarique and his Malay counterpart at the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya on Jun 22, followed by a bilateral meeting between high-level delegations led by the heads of government.
The foreign secretary said that during the Prime Minister's visit, discussions will be held on establishing greater cooperation between the two countries in various fields including trade and investment expansion, energy cooperation, the Halal economy, worker remittances, the semiconductor industry and agriculture, education and public relations.
"In particular, requests will be made for the recruitment of new Bangladeshi workers in various sectors in Malaysia, and petitions will be made for the welfare of Bangladeshis," he added.
Siam said that during the visit to Malaysia, Bangladesh's application to join ASEAN's Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as a dialogue partner will be strongly highlighted and Malaysia's support will be sought for the motion.
After concluding his two-day visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Tarique will leave for China’s Dalian with his entourage.
The foreign secretary said that, according to the itinerary, the premier will depart from Kuala Lumpur for Dalian at noon on Jun 22, arriving in the evening local time.
