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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Malaysia for his maiden foreign tour since taking office, according to foreign ministry officials.
Following his trip to Malaysia, he will head to China, ministry officials told bdnews24.com.
They said the schedule for the visit to Kuala Lumpur is being finalised, with Tarique expected to travel between Jun 21 and Jun 22.
After completing the Malaysia visit, he is expected to travel to China between Jun 23 and Jun 26, according to the officials.
They said preparations are under way at the foreign ministry, based on the tentative decision taken during the Eid-ul-Azha holiday period.
However, a final decision has not yet been made on whether the prime minister will travel directly from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing or return to Dhaka first, a foreign ministry official said.
He added that Bangladesh maintains extensive relations with China and Malaysia, and inter-ministerial meetings would be held to finalise the agendas for the two visits.
Tarique’s first foreign destination has been a subject of discussion for the past three months following the BNP government’s return to power after nearly two decades.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has already visited India and China, but officials had earlier refrained from confirming the prime minister’s first overseas destination, saying it was under consideration.
Speaking after a meeting on May 5, Khalilur did not provide a clear answer on the first visit, but indicated it could be India or China.
When asked whether preparations were under way for the Jun 23 China visit, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said no final decision had been made.
“Still no decision has been finalised. You will have to wait. When it is confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office, the spokesperson will inform you,” she said.
She also said Tarique is currently focused on implementing election manifesto commitments and that foreign visits would begin in phases.
Responding to questions about a possible visit to India following an invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said visits to neighbouring countries would take place gradually.
“You will have to wait. Not only India, but the prime minister will visit all SAARC countries, and those visits will be important,” she added.
Earlier, India had extended an invitation for Tarque’s visit as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and political understanding.