Kuala lumpur: Bangladesh and Malaysia have reached an agreement to collaborate on the investigation of allegations involving Bangladeshi nationals suspected of militancy activities in Malaysia. This decision was made during a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan, on the sidelines of the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the understanding was formalized in a press release issued by the Bangladesh foreign ministry. The meeting highlighted Bangladesh's commitment to combat terrorism and extremism, with Adviser Hossain seeking Malaysia's cooperation in conducting a thorough investigation through the exchange of information. The Malaysian Foreign Minister pledged full support, including allowing Bangladeshi authorities access to individuals and relevant details concerning the allegations. On the same day, Adviser Hossain held discussions with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. These talks addressed various issues, including governance reforms in Bangladesh, the Rohingya crisis, and support following Bangladesh's graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status. In addition to these discussions, Hossain met with his counterparts from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and South Korea. The meetings with Winston Peters, Herath, and Park Yoonjoo covered a broad spectrum of bilateral and multilateral interests. Bangladesh has been a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum since 2006. Established in the early 1990s, the ARF now consists of 27 members and aims to enhance security cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region. Bangladesh currently co-chairs two ARF priority areas: "Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime" and "Disaster Relief." During the afternoon session, Adviser Hossain delivered Bangladesh's national statement, emphasizing the need to address the Rohingya crisis and its impact on regional security. He also encouraged ASEAN members to consider Bangladesh's proposal to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner. Accompanying Adviser Hossain at the meetings were Md. Shameem Ahsan, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia, Md. Forhadul Islam, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other senior government officials. The next ARF Ministerial Meeting is set to take place in Manila in 2026.
