Prof Yunus’ Malaysia visit to be crucial, action-packed: Shafiqul Alam
UNB:
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Sunday described Prof Muhammad Yunus’ three-day official visit to Malaysia as a “very crucial and important” step towards elevating relations between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur to a new height.
“The visit will be an action-packed one, and we expect it to be successful. We will hold deeper and broader discussions on all issues,” Alam said while briefing the media at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
Malaysia remains a key destination for Bangladeshi workers, he said, confirming that recruitment and visa-related matters will be addressed during the visit. “Migration and investment will get a special attention,” Alam said.
Bangladesh will also seek Malaysian cooperation in deep-sea fishing and electric vehicle manufacturing through joint ventures, said the Press Secretary.
The Director General (Public Diplomacy) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shah Asif Rahman, said five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), covering a number of areas, including defence and energy, are expected to be signed, alongside three additional notes.
Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder was also present at the briefing.
Bangladesh and Malaysia are set to hold the highest-level talks in Putrajaya on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and achieve tangible outcomes in multiple sectors, including trade, investment and labour cooperation.
Prof Yunus is scheduled to leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Kuala Lumpur on Monday for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, a long-time friend of the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate and a strong supporter of Bangladesh.
Ensuring the smooth and transparent recruitment of Bangladeshi workers, expanding cooperation in energy, trade, higher education, halal food production, the blue economy and addressing the Rohingya crisis are among the issues to be discussed, officials said.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun are likely to accompany the Chief Adviser during the visit that will see a series of other meetings in addition to bilateral talks.
Last October, the Malaysian Prime Minister made an official visit to Bangladesh, the first by any head of government since the interim government assumed office.
He was accompanied by a 58-member delegation, including ministers, deputy ministers, members of parliament and senior Malaysian officials.