Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will depart for Malaysia on Monday, August 11, for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.During the trip, up to five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, according to the Chief Adviser’s press office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The visit will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Anwar in Putrajaya on August 12, as confirmed by Shah Asif Rahman, Director General (Public Diplomacy) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Sunday.
Discussions will focus on key areas including Rohingya repatriation, expansion of the labour market, and sustainable use of Bangladesh’s vast maritime resources, agricultural cooperation, and boosting bilateral trade.
Bangladesh will urge Malaysia and other ASEAN nations to play a more proactive role in facilitating the safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees.
Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, said cooperation on waste management and investment in deep-sea fishing will be discussed with Malaysia’s treasury and relevant agencies.
“Currently, we harvest fish only within 40-50 kilometres of our coast,” Alam noted. “But our maritime boundary spans around 2,10,000 square kilometres, larger than the land area of Bangladesh itself. The Chief Adviser wants to prioritise the sustainable development of this resource. He has already raised this during his recent visit to Japan.”
Discussions on electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing are also on the agenda, particularly through potential collaboration with Proton Holdings, Malaysia’s national carmaker, which is heavily investing in EV technology.
“The possibility of establishing EV production in Bangladesh and how we can cooperate with Proton will be explored,” Alam said.
Additionally, the Chief Adviser is scheduled to meet the CEO of Axiata Group, a leading telecommunications company in Southeast Asia, to discuss digital connectivity and technology partnerships.
The delegation includes Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, and Expatriates’ Welfare Adviser Asif Nazrul, along with senior government officials.
There is also a possibility that Dr Yunus will meet former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, where issues related to labour migration complications are expected to be discussed.
BIDA Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury will participate in several business forums during the visit, aiming to strengthen investment ties.
Alam acknowledged concerns about Bangladeshi students and workers in Malaysia: “Many of our citizens go to Malaysia for education, but often struggle to secure decent jobs. This issue will be raised during the talks.”
On the controversial labour syndicate system in Malaysia, Alam said it is a structural challenge involving multiple stakeholders. “Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has been actively engaged on this from the beginning. We hope for meaningful improvements in the future.”
In response to a question about a Malaysian government letter from April alleging money laundering and human trafficking involving some Bangladeshi workers between 2022 and 2024, Alam said: “The Expatriates’ Welfare Adviser is best placed to comment, as I have not seen the letter myself.”
Regarding Bangladeshis detained in Malaysia on suspicion of links to militant groups, he confirmed: “An agreement has been reached between the police forces of both countries. We are now working to establish a faster mechanism for verifying and sharing intelligence. The two nations are closely monitoring these cases.”
The upcoming visit marks a significant step in strengthening Bangladesh’s ties with Malaysia and ASEAN, following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Dhaka in October 2023 at Dr Yunus’ invitation.
Discussions will focus on key areas including Rohingya repatriation, expansion of the labour market, and sustainable use of Bangladesh’s vast maritime resources, agricultural cooperation, and boosting bilateral trade.
Bangladesh will urge Malaysia and other ASEAN nations to play a more proactive role in facilitating the safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees.
Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, said cooperation on waste management and investment in deep-sea fishing will be discussed with Malaysia’s treasury and relevant agencies.
“Currently, we harvest fish only within 40-50 kilometres of our coast,” Alam noted. “But our maritime boundary spans around 2,10,000 square kilometres, larger than the land area of Bangladesh itself. The Chief Adviser wants to prioritise the sustainable development of this resource. He has already raised this during his recent visit to Japan.”
Discussions on electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing are also on the agenda, particularly through potential collaboration with Proton Holdings, Malaysia’s national carmaker, which is heavily investing in EV technology.
“The possibility of establishing EV production in Bangladesh and how we can cooperate with Proton will be explored,” Alam said.
Additionally, the Chief Adviser is scheduled to meet the CEO of Axiata Group, a leading telecommunications company in Southeast Asia, to discuss digital connectivity and technology partnerships.
The delegation includes Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, and Expatriates’ Welfare Adviser Asif Nazrul, along with senior government officials.
There is also a possibility that Dr Yunus will meet former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, where issues related to labour migration complications are expected to be discussed.
BIDA Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury will participate in several business forums during the visit, aiming to strengthen investment ties.
Alam acknowledged concerns about Bangladeshi students and workers in Malaysia: “Many of our citizens go to Malaysia for education, but often struggle to secure decent jobs. This issue will be raised during the talks.”
On the controversial labour syndicate system in Malaysia, Alam said it is a structural challenge involving multiple stakeholders. “Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has been actively engaged on this from the beginning. We hope for meaningful improvements in the future.”
In response to a question about a Malaysian government letter from April alleging money laundering and human trafficking involving some Bangladeshi workers between 2022 and 2024, Alam said: “The Expatriates’ Welfare Adviser is best placed to comment, as I have not seen the letter myself.”
Regarding Bangladeshis detained in Malaysia on suspicion of links to militant groups, he confirmed: “An agreement has been reached between the police forces of both countries. We are now working to establish a faster mechanism for verifying and sharing intelligence. The two nations are closely monitoring these cases.”
The upcoming visit marks a significant step in strengthening Bangladesh’s ties with Malaysia and ASEAN, following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Dhaka in October 2023 at Dr Yunus’ invitation.