Dhaka   Thursday
14 August 2025

Bangladesh Seeks Malaysian Help in Halal Sector

Staff Correspondent

Published: 23:05, 13 August 2025

Bangladesh Seeks Malaysian Help in Halal Sector

Bangladesh has sought Malaysia’s assistance to secure a stronger foothold in the rapidly growing global halal products market. As part of this initiative, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus discussed the establishment of a Halal Industrial Park in Bangladesh with Malaysian authorities during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on August 12.

The meeting was attended by a Malaysian delegation led by Datin Paduka Hajah Hakimah binti Mohammad Yusoff, Halal Industry Coordinator at the Prime Minister’s Department. Officials noted that the global halal products market, currently valued at USD 3 trillion, is projected to reach USD 5 trillion by 2030. Malaysia operates 14 halal industrial parks and commands a significant share of this market, competing with Middle Eastern countries, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.

Also present were Sirajuddin bin Suhaimi, Director General of Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM), and Hairol Ariffein Sahari, CEO of the Halal Development Corporation (HDC). From Bangladesh, attendees included Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain, Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, Energy Adviser Fawzul Kabir Khan, Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi, and SDG Affairs Senior Secretary Lamia Morshed.

Bangladesh, home to the world’s third-largest Muslim population, has the potential to become a major player in the halal market if it strengthens infrastructure and certification capacity. At present, only the Islamic Foundation issues halal certification in Bangladesh, with just 124 companies certified so far.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun urged Malaysia to assist in identifying requirements for establishing a halal industrial park in Bangladesh. Dr. Yunus described the meeting as a valuable learning experience, likening it to a “class” on halal products. Sirajuddin bin Suhaimi said Malaysia would soon send a team to assess Bangladesh’s needs.