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Thursday | November 05, 2026 | Dhaka

Dhaka works to secure wider regional trade access

FTA with Malaysia, energy investment from Brunei among key economic priorities
 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:02 AM, 05 November 2026

Bangladesh is seeking to turn its diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asian countries into greater trade access, investment and economic cooperation, with a particular focus on securing a foothold in regional trade arrangements and diversifying its economic partnerships ahead of its graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category.

As part of this strategy, Dhaka has sought Malaysia’s backing for its bid to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner and join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), while pressing for an early conclusion of a free trade agreement (FTA) with Kuala Lumpur.

The issues came up during a meeting between Acting Foreign Minister Humaiun Kobir and his Malaysian counterpart, Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan, on 3 November on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
(CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda, according to a Foreign Ministry press release issued on Wednesday.

The two ministers reviewed bilateral relations, focusing on trade, investment and labour migration.

They also discussed the need for joint inspections and closer monitoring of the recruitment process to ensure fair and transparent employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

The Malaysian foreign minister assured Dhaka of his country’s support for Bangladesh’s aspirations to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner and accede to the RCEP agreement.

He also expressed hope that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim would visit Dhaka at an early date, following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s state visit to Malaysia in June this year.

In another meeting on the sidelines of CHOGM, Kobir explored opportunities for long-term energy cooperation with Brunei Darussalam’s Second Minister of Finance, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah.

Kobir conveyed Bangladesh’s interest in expanding energy ties with Brunei and invited the country to invest in energy exploration through government-to-government (G2G) arrangements and public-private partnerships.

He also encouraged Bruneian investment in Bangladesh’s Islamic banking sector and offered to provide additional skilled, semi-skilled and professional workers to meet the country’s labour market requirements.

Acknowledging the contribution of Bangladeshi expatriates to Brunei’s economy, the Bruneian minister expressed optimism about the continued recruitment of workers from Bangladesh.

Kobir also conveyed an invitation from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the Sultan of Brunei to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has called for continued preferential trade treatment for countries graduating from the LDC category, warning that the transition to developing-country status could affect their competitiveness if existing trade advantages are withdrawn prematurely.

Addressing the executive session of CHOGM on 3 November, Kobir urged developed Commonwealth countries to maintain preferential arrangements in intra-Commonwealth trade for graduating LDCs to help them navigate the socio-economic transition smoothly and avoid disruptions to their trade competitiveness.

Speaking on behalf of the Bangladesh delegation, he also drew attention to barriers disrupting supply chains and trade flows among Commonwealth members and called for stronger collective efforts to unlock the bloc’s intra-Commonwealth trade potential.

The executive session, held at the American University of Antigua Conference Centre, brought together heads of government, foreign ministers and heads of delegations from 56 Commonwealth member states.

The discussions covered ways to expand intra-Commonwealth trade and investment, mobilise private-sector financing, improve coordination in international monetary and trading systems, strengthen climate finance partnerships, and promote youth skills development and entrepreneurship.

Kobir was accorded full cabinet ministerial status to lead the Bangladesh delegation and discharge the responsibilities of the foreign minister at the 28th CHOGM, held in Antigua and Barbuda from 1 to 4 November 2026.