Chief adviser leaves for Malaysia on a 3-day visit

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has left Dhaka for a three-day visit to Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the chief advisor departed at 2:00 pm on Monday, the Chief Adviser's Office said in a statement.

Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, foreign ministry spokesperson Shah Asif Rahman said that on the first day of the trip, Yunus will be welcomed with a guard of honour and a formal reception. He will then hold a private meeting with Anwar on Tuesday.

A delegation-level meeting led by the two leaders will follow immediately, focusing on matters of mutual interest, Asif said.

Five memoranda of understanding (MoU) 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, he said.

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.

Asif 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 August 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.

Yunus 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.