Post by : Meena Ariff

A special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and his high-level delegation left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 2:00 pm. The Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, confirmed the departure.

Focus on Migration and Investment

Before the trip, the Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters that the visit would focus on strengthening cooperation in migration and investment. These two areas have been given top priority during the discussions scheduled in Malaysia.

Warm Welcome in Malaysia

On arrival in Malaysia, Yunus will be welcomed with a formal guard of honour. The Malaysian Home Minister, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, will personally receive him at the airport, marking the beginning of the official engagements.

Important Meetings and Events

The visit’s first major engagement will be a bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Yunus and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on August 12 at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya. After their meeting, the two leaders are expected to witness the signing of a key memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh and Malaysia.

In total, five MoUs and three notes of exchange are expected to be signed during this visit, covering areas such as labor migration, trade, investment, energy cooperation, and education exchange programs.

Business Conference and Academic Honour

A high-profile business conference will be held on August 12, aimed at boosting trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. Business leaders, investors, and policymakers from both nations are expected to attend, with discussions focused on creating new opportunities for cooperation in various sectors.

On August 13, the Chief Adviser will receive an honorary doctorate from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in recognition of his contributions to social development and economic cooperation.

Meeting with the Bangladeshi Community

As part of his trip, Yunus will also join a view-exchange meeting with members of the Bangladeshi expatriate community in Malaysia. This session will give him the opportunity to hear directly from overseas Bangladeshis about their challenges and suggestions, especially regarding migration processes, employment opportunities, and community welfare.

High-Level Delegation Accompanies Yunus

The Chief Adviser is accompanied by a delegation of top officials and advisers, including:

• Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain

• Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul

• Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan

• National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman

• Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi

• Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun

This diverse team reflects the broad agenda of the visit, which spans diplomacy, economy, security, and energy sectors.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

The Malaysia trip is seen as an important step in deepening Bangladesh’s ties with a key Southeast Asian partner. Malaysia hosts a large Bangladeshi workforce, making migration and labor agreements a major focus of the talks. Investment and trade are also high on the agenda, with both countries looking to enhance cooperation in technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure development.

Return to Bangladesh

The Chief Adviser is expected to conclude his visit and return to Dhaka on August 13, following the completion of all official engagements.