CA Yunus in KL; talks with Malaysian PM tomorrow eying greater cooperation

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will hold official talks at Putrajaya tomorrow morning (12 August) to review the progress in diverse areas and outline steps towards elevating the relations between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur to a new height.

The chief adviser, who reached Kuala Lumpur at 7:50pm (KL time) today (11 August), will be accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex, Putrajaya (administrative capital) on Tuesday morning before the private and delegation-level bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will receive the chief adviser.

Prof Yunus will inspect the guard of honour as the national anthems of both countries will be played.

He will then be introduced to the Malaysian delegation and will, in turn, present the Bangladeshi delegation to the Prime Minister before signing the guest book.

Following the private and delegation-level talks, the two leaders will witness the exchange of MoUs and notes, after which they will address a joint press conference.

Both in the private and delegation-level meetings, the issues of recruiting new Bangladeshi workers in various sectors of Malaysia, recruiting more professionals, and ensuring the facilities and benefits of workers will be discussed with great importance, officials said.

Malaysia, one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic economies, extended a warm welcome to Chief Adviser Prof Yunus upon his arrival today.

A commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Prof Yunus and his entourage members left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2pm and reached Kuala Lumpur at 7:50pm (KL time), Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB.

Upon his arrival at Bunga Raya VVIP Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Prof Yunus was received at the boarding bridge by Malaysia's Chief of Protocol.

He was then escorted to the VVIP Complex, where the Chief Adviser was welcomed by Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Bin Ismail and accorded a static guard of honour.

The chief adviser is paying a three-day official visit here at the invitation of Malaysian prime minister.

Both leaders are expected to review the progress of Bangladesh-Malaysia relations, particularly in the areas of trade and investment, labour, education, tourism, and defence.

The discussions will also include regional and international developments of mutual interest, including the repatriation of the Rohingyas, officials told UNB. 

Both leaders will also witness the exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the fields of defence, energy, strategic and international studies, capacity building in semiconductors, and trade promotion, as well as the exchange of notes in the areas of diplomatic training and higher education.

In 2024, total trade between Bangladesh and Malaysia reached USD 2.92 billion, an increase of 5.1% compared with 2023.

Bangladesh is Malaysia's second-largest trading partner and export destination in South Asia, and major exports include petroleum products, palm oil, and chemicals, while imports from Bangladesh comprise textiles, footwear, petroleum products, and manufactures.

Prof Yunus' visit came as a reciprocal gesture following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to Bangladesh in October 2024.

Prime Minister Anwar, a long-time friend of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been a steadfast supporter of Bangladesh and its development initiatives.

The visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations and foster stronger cooperation in areas of mutual benefit, building upon the strong foundation established since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, said the Malaysian side.

In honour of the Chief Adviser and his delegation members, the Malaysian prime minister will host an official luncheon at the Seri Perdana Complex on Tuesday.