CA Yunus to visit Malaysia 11-13 August
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is set to visit Malaysia from 11 to 13 August. Trade, investment, Rohingya, recruitment and regularisation of Bangladeshi workers, money laundering, and observer status of Bangladesh at Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are likely to be discussed during the visit, sources in Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur confirmed.
Muhammad Yunus is visiting Malaysia at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to deepen multilateral relations with the South Asian country. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam will accompany Yunus during the visit, sources said.
"I strongly believe that the visit of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to Malaysia will be critical in further strengthening the cordial bilateral relations existing between the two friendly countries," said a high official of the foreign ministry.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
In a phone call with CA Yunus on 13 August 2024, Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim said his country stands ready to extend all-out support to the interim government of Bangladesh.
"Malaysia is ready to be a partner of Bangladesh in its endeavour to become a prosperous and truly democratic state," he said.
Yunus on 27 August 2024 sought Malaysia's support for Bangladesh to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Malaysia took over as the ASEAN chair in January 2025.
"Bangladesh can be a bridge between ASEAN and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc)," the chief adviser said when Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Haznah Md Hashim paid a courtesy call on him at his residence State Guest House Jamuna.
High Commissioner Haznah said she would convey Professor Yunus's message to the Malaysian authorities regarding the ASEAN membership.
Chief Adviser Yunus will also meet former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to help Bangladesh in its bid to become a member of ASEAN.
During his visit to Malaysia, Yunus is likely to discuss with Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim the issue of money laundering and seek his intervention into the matter.
Officials in Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur said the labour market in Malaysia has been saturated and the opening of labour market in Malaysia will be a major challenge.
The labour market in Malaysia has been closed since June 2024 and Chief Adviser Yunus is likely to raise the issue with Anwar Ibrahim and request reopening of the labour market soon.
