Dhaka: Migration and investment issues will be prioritized during Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s visit to Malaysia.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced that the Chief Adviser is set to depart for Malaysia tomorrow for a three-day state visit, emphasizing the importance of this mission aimed at deepening bilateral relations with Malaysia. The visit will primarily focus on discussions about immigration, with investment being the secondary focus.
Alam shared these details at a press briefing organized at the Foreign Service Academy. He highlighted Malaysia’s significance in Bangladesh’s manpower sector, expressing hopes to enhance migration agreements, where Malaysia would take a substantial number of workers from Bangladesh. The visit will include meetings with CEOs of major Malaysian companies.
A business conference is scheduled for August 12, followed by the conferral of an honorary degree to the Chief Adviser by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) on August 13. Alam expressed hopes that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim would attend the event. A crucial bilateral meeting with the Malaysian Prime Minister is planned for August 12, aiming to elevate the strong relations between the two nations.
Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shah Asif Rahman noted that the Chief Adviser’s visit is in response to an invitation from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The Chief Adviser will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including several advisers and officials from Bangladesh.
On the first day of the visit, the Chief Adviser will be welcomed with a guard of honour, received by Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. A bilateral meeting is scheduled at the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya on August 12, followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries.
MoUs are expected to cover defense and energy cooperation, including LNG and petroleum supply, infrastructure construction, and collaboration between various institutes and business chambers. An exchange note on the halal ecosystem and cooperation in higher education will also be signed.
Asif Rahman mentioned that after the bilateral meeting, a press conference and state lunch will be organized in honour of the Chief Adviser. Prof Yunus is also expected to participate in a business forum and meet with expatriate Bangladeshis.
The discussions with the Malaysian Prime Minister will address the recruitment of new Bangladeshi workers in various Malaysian sectors, the hiring of more professionals, and improving facilities for workers. Strengthening bilateral trade relations, particularly in agriculture and the use of the deep sea, will also be key topics of discussion.