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He concludes the brief visit, focusing on strengthening relations and increasing trade between Malaysia and Bangladesh
Published : 04 Oct 2024, 10:25 PM
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has departed for Malaysia following a brief, nearly five-hour visit to Dhaka, marking the first official visit by a foreign head of state since Bangladesh's interim government took charge two months ago.
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told bdnews24.com that the plane carrying Ibrahim left Shahjalal International Airport around 7pm on Friday. He had landed in Bangladesh around 2:15pm.
Leading a 58-strong delegation, he visited Bangladesh after concluding a three-day official tour of Pakistan. The visit was designed to express his confidence in the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The longstanding acquaintance and friendship of over four decades between the two leaders were highlighted in their statements.
Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in a popular uprising, Yunus was sworn in as the head of the interim government. Ibrahim was the first to call and congratulate him after Yunus took on his new role as the interim prime minister.
On Friday, around 2:30pm, Ibrahim was welcomed at Shahjalal International Airport by Yunus.
After the formalities of the guard of honour at the airport, the two leaders engaged in a brief private discussion. They then travelled together in the same car to Hotel Intercontinental, where the bilateral meeting was scheduled.
Following the meeting, Yunus and Ibrahim held a joint press conference. After the press event, the prime minister attended a tea reception before heading to Bangabhaban to meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
Upon completing the formalities at Bangabhaban, the Malaysian premier departed for his country around 6:30pm. Yunus and other top government officials were present at the airport to bid him farewell.
During this brief but action-packed visit, filled with meetings and formalities, discussions centred on strengthening bilateral relations, increasing trade, and boosting investment between the two countries.
The Malaysian prime minister also promised to provide another opportunity for 18,000 Bangladeshis, who had previously failed to migrate as workers to Malaysia, to go there again.
The 58-strong delegation included the country's foreign minister, minister of trade and investment, deputy minister of transport, deputy minister of religious affairs, two members of parliament, and officials from the foreign ministry.
