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Published : 10 Aug 2025, 09:18 PM
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is set to travel to Kuala Lumpur on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
A delegation-level meeting led by the two leaders will follow immediately, focusing on matters of mutual interest, Asif said.
Five memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed during the visit, covering defence cooperation, energy cooperation, formation of business councils between the FBCCI and NCCIM, cooperation between BMCCI and Malaysia’s MIMOS, and cooperation between the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies and the Malaysian Institute of Strategic and International Studies.
Asif also noted the possibility of three “exchanges of notes” on cooperation in the halal ecosystem, higher education, and diplomatic training.
After the bilateral meeting, the two leaders will address a press conference before attending a state luncheon in honour of Yunus.
In the afternoon, he will join a business forum and later meet with expatriate Bangladeshis in Malaysia.
He also said labour migration will be a key topic in the talks, including the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in several Malaysian sectors, the hiring of more professionals, and ensuring better benefits and facilities for workers.
On Aug 13, the final day of the trip, the chief advisor will pay a courtesy call on Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, the Muhriz of Negeri Sembilan and chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
He will receive an honorary doctorate from the university and deliver a commemorative address to students.
During the visit, discussions will also cover trade and investment expansion, energy cooperation, the halal economy, the semiconductor industry, agriculture, education and public diplomacy.
Bangladesh’s application to become an ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner and to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will be strongly emphasised, he said.
Dhaka will also urge Malaysia and other ASEAN members to take a more active role in facilitating the repatriation of the Rohingya.
“The foreign ministry believes that this visit will play an important role in elevating the existing bilateral and economic relations with Malaysia to a new level,” Asif said.
The delegation will include Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Advisor Asif Nazrul, Power and Energy Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan, National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman, Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi and other senior government officials.
Asked whether the influence of recruitment syndicates would be addressed, the chief advisor’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, said: “Almost all issues will be discussed with the Malaysian officials.
“The first question you asked is a structural issue. Many issues are involved here. So, we are very serious about that. It is Asif Nazrul who has been working on it since the beginning, and we hope that it will go to a better place in the future.”
In response to a question about the arrest and repatriation of Bangladeshis accused of militancy, he said good communication has been established between the police chiefs and senior officials of the two countries.
“After this, we are having discussions on how to verify the information that is coming in now, and how to exchange information quickly, and we are closely cooperating with the two countries on this.”
On the issue of undocumented Bangladeshis in Malaysia, Alam said: “There will be a lot of discussions. Some agreements will be made, and many other issues will be discussed. And apart from the discussions between the chief advisor and their prime minister, we also have our expatriate welfare advisor as he will talk. Now let’s see what issues are discussed. We will come and update you.”
