On the Occasion of the 69th National Day of Malaysia
It is with profound honor and great joy that I extend my warmest greetings to all Malaysians, as well as to our esteemed Malaysian diaspora residing in Bangladesh, on the occasion of our 69th National Day, Selamat Hari Kebangsaan.
This historic milestone is not merely a celebration of our hard-earned independence, but a renewed testament to our enduring national identity, resilience, and collective resolve to build a progressive and prosperous Malaysia.
This year’s theme, “Malaysia MADANI: Kesejahteraan Dinikmati”, reflects our shared aspiration to ensure that the benefits of Malaysia’s progress and development are enjoyed by all segments of society.
It embodies our commitment to strengthening unity, fostering inclusivity and building a nation where peace, progress and prosperity are shared by all Malaysians.
These values extend beyond our national borders and are equally reflected in Malaysia’s engagement with our friends and partners around the world, including Bangladesh. Our relationship with Bangladesh is anchored in shared values, mutual respect and a longstanding spirit of solidarity.
Since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, our bilateral relations have continued to grow and evolve across political, economic, social and cultural spheres. Today, this enduring partnership stands stronger than ever, reflecting more than five decades of mutual trust, close friendship and profound goodwill between our two nations.
Our diplomatic ties have witnessed remarkable momentum, particularly following the recent successful official visit of the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, His Excellency Tarique Rahman to Malaysia. This landmark visit injected a vibrant, renewed momentum into our bilateral relations, reaffirming the strong political will of both leaders to elevate Malaysia-Bangladesh relations to unprecedented heights. The discussions held at the highest level underscored our mutual commitment to deepen cooperation across a broad spectrum of sectors, including trade and investment, semiconductors, halal economy, manufacturing, the digital economy, agriculture, energy, and human resource development.
Malaysia takes immense pride in hosting one of the largest Bangladeshi expatriate communities abroad. Their industrious contributions not only enrich Malaysia’s economic landscape but also serve as a living bridge of friendship between our societies. Concurrently, the growing preference among Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education in Malaysian institutions continues to fortify our vibrant people-to-people connections.
Economic cooperation remains the cornerstone of our strategic partnership. As Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade approaching the USD 3 billion milestone, Malaysia remains deeply optimistic about our economic trajectory. Our active progression toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) reflects our mutual determination to unlock new market potentials. Furthermore, initiatives linking Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem with Bangladesh’s technology and engineering talent pool open up incredible avenues for joint ventures and high-value innovation.
As we witness this powerful momentum created by our political leadership, the private sector must respond with decisive action. In this regard, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) under the energetic leadership of its newly elected President, Mr. Md. Anwar Shahid and its Board of Directors.
As we commemorate 69 years of independence and sovereign progress, I offer my best wishes for enduring peace, stability, and collective prosperity to the people of Malaysia and Bangladesh alike. May our enduring friendship continue to scale new heights for the mutual benefit of future generations.
Selamat Hari Kebangsaan!
Mohd Shuhada Othman
High Commissioner of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
