Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser of the interim government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is scheduled to visit Malaysia from August 11 to 13 at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, according to official sources in Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur.
The visit aims to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen multilateral cooperation between the two friendly nations. During the trip, Dr. Yunus will engage in high-level talks on a wide range of issues, including trade, investment, Rohingya repatriation, recruitment and regularization of Bangladeshi workers, as well as curbing money laundering and Bangladesh’s observer status in ASEAN.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen are expected to accompany Dr. Yunus during the visit.
Officials from the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur noted that the visit holds significant importance in reinforcing the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and Malaysia.
It is expected that Dr. Yunus will meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss the reopening of Malaysia's labor market, which has remained closed to Bangladeshi workers since June 2024. Securing renewed access to the market remains a key diplomatic priority for Bangladesh.
He will also hold talks on ASEAN membership aspirations, building on his request from August 27, 2024, for Malaysia’s support for Bangladesh to attain observer status. Dr. Yunus is also scheduled to meet former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to further discuss Bangladesh’s pathway to deeper ASEAN integration.
Dr. Yunus will seek Malaysia's cooperation in preventing illicit financial outflows from Bangladesh and is expected to formally request Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's intervention on this matter.
Earlier, in a phone call on August 13 last year, Prime Minister Anwar had expressed full support for Bangladesh’s interim government and reiterated Malaysia’s willingness to be a partner in Bangladesh’s pursuit of a prosperous and democratic future.
