Bangladesh, Malaysia pledge to forge stronger strategic partnership

Bangladesh and Malaysia have vowed to elevate their longstanding relationship into a forward-looking strategic partnership, following high-level talks between Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim in Putrajaya on Tuesday.

The meeting began with a one-on-one discussion between the two leaders, later expanding to restricted talks and a full delegation-level session. Both sides addressed a broad range of priorities including trade and investment, migrant worker welfare, energy cooperation, the blue economy, education, cultural exchanges, and regional security.

“Our two countries share a deep bond rooted in history, religion and cultural empathy. Malaysia is a unique partner of Bangladesh, particularly in human resources, trade and people-to-people contacts,” Prof Yunus said at the outset of the delegation talks.

Prime Minister Anwar hailed Yunus as “a friend of Malaysia” and commended his stewardship of Bangladesh’s interim government. He stressed the importance of expanding trade, improving migrant worker protections, and collaborating on solutions to the Rohingya crisis.

During their private meeting, Prof Yunus expressed appreciation for Malaysia’s recent facilitation of nearly 8,000 stranded Bangladeshi workers under a streamlined protocol, as well as the introduction of multiple-entry visas enabling workers to return home during emergencies without jeopardising their jobs. Both sides also emphasised the need for transparent recruitment processes to reduce costs and protect worker welfare.

Adviser on Law, Justice and Overseas Employment Asif Nazrul urged Malaysia to recruit more skilled Bangladeshi professionals — including doctors, engineers, security personnel and carers — through a government-to-government system managed by Bangladesh’s state-run BOESL. He also called for measures to regularise undocumented Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

Malaysian officials confirmed that Bangladeshi workers will now receive the same social security benefits as Malaysians and will be able to lodge grievances in the Bangla language. Bangladesh additionally sought “Graduate Pass” visas for the roughly 10,000 Bangladeshi students studying in Malaysia.

On regional cooperation, Dhaka sought Malaysia’s backing for its bid to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner during Malaysia’s upcoming chairmanship. Prof Yunus also invited Malaysia to join the forthcoming Conference on the Rohingya Crisis in Cox’s Bazar and the UN-led conference on the issue in New York this September.

The talks yielded agreements to fast-track negotiations on a Bangladesh–Malaysia Free Trade Agreement, expand investment ties through Special Economic Zones, and activate the Malaysia–Bangladesh Joint Business Council. Bangladesh also requested greater market access for pharmaceuticals, footwear, ceramics, jute products and batteries to address the trade imbalance.

Other discussions covered collaboration on the blue economy, Halal industry development — including plans for a dedicated Halal Economic Zone near Dhaka — and possible Bangladeshi participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Both countries welcomed a new memorandum of understanding on LNG supply and energy cooperation and agreed to explore renewable energy ventures. Defence, cultural, and tourism collaborations were also on the agenda, with Prime Minister Anwar proposing a conference celebrating prominent Asian writers and thinkers, citing his admiration for Rabindranath Tagore.

Earlier in the day, Prof Yunus received a ceremonial red-carpet welcome with a guard of honour at the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office. The two leaders then witnessed the exchange of multiple MoUs, including agreements on defence cooperation, LNG supply, strategic studies collaboration, microelectronics cooperation, Halal industry development, higher education partnerships, and diplomatic training.

Prime Minister Anwar later hosted a luncheon in honour of Prof Yunus at his official residence.

The Bangladeshi delegation included Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam.

The Chief Adviser is in Malaysia from August 11 to 13 on an official three-day visit.