Bangladesh renews ASEAN entry

Diplomatic Correspondent :

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has reaffirmed Bangladesh’s aspiration to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), urging Malaysia to actively support the country’s membership ambitions.

During a meeting with Nurul Izzah Anwar – Vice President of Malaysia’s People’s Justice Party and daughter of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, Professor Yunus stressed the importance of regional cooperation.

“We want to become a part of ASEAN, and we will be needing your support,” he stated, highlighting the potential for enhanced economic and multilateral collaboration between Bangladesh and Southeast Asia.

Bangladesh formally applied for sectoral dialogue partnership with ASEAN in 2020. With Malaysia currently chairing the regional bloc, Dhaka remains hopeful that Kuala Lumpur will take a leading role in supporting both its dialogue partnership and eventual full membership.

Professor Yunus underscored that ASEAN membership would significantly benefit Bangladesh through increased trade, investment, and regional connectivity, while also strengthening people-to-people ties.

“Our engagement with ASEAN will bring benefits not just to Bangladesh, but to the region as a whole,” he said. Though not a member of the bloc, Bangladesh has progressively deepened cooperation with ASEAN over the past two decades.