Prime Minister En Route to Malaysia

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is en route to Malaysia on his first official state visit as Prime Minister. The Prime Minister departed today, Sunday, at 2:45 PM on a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

The news was confirmed by the Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary, Atiqur Rahman Rumon.

He said, "Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is embarking on his first state visit to Malaysia. This is a two-day tour. The Prime Minister is accompanied by his spouse, Dr. Zubaida Rahman. The Prime Minister is leading a 23-member delegation."

Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Moni, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, the Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibly, the ambassadors of Malaysia and China, along with top government officials, saw off the Prime Minister at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Following an absolute majority in the 13th National Parliamentary Election on February 12, Tarique Rahman assumed office as Prime Minister on February 17. He is embarking on this foreign trip four months after taking office.

The Prime Minister's entourage includes Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, Minister of State for Energy and Power Anindya Islam Amit, the Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, Overseas Employment Adviser Mahadi Amin, and Defense Adviser AKM Shamsul Islam, among others.

Meanwhile, at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka yesterday, Saturday, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam outlined Prime Minister Tariq Rahman's six-day itinerary for Malaysia and China.

He informed that during the Kuala Lumpur visit, two instruments regarding cultural exchange and a free trade agreement are likely to be signed with Malaysia.

Highlighting the Prime Minister's Malaysia visit, which runs from today, Sunday afternoon, to June 22, Asad Alam Siam said that the Prime Minister will be given a formal reception in Malaysia on the first day of the visit, June 21.

He added that on the following day, June 22, a one-on-one meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries will take place at the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya, which will be immediately followed by bilateral talks between high-level delegations led by the respective heads of government.
During the Prime Minister's visit, the Foreign Secretary said, discussions will be held on establishing greater cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including trade and investment expansion, energy cooperation, the halal economy, recruitment of workers, the semiconductor industry, agriculture, education, and people-to-people contact.

"In particular, a request will be made to recruit new Bangladeshi workers in various sectors of Malaysia, and issues regarding the welfare of Bangladeshis will be raised," he added.

Asad Alam Siam stated that during the Malaysia visit, Bangladesh will strongly present its application to join ASEAN as a 'Dialogue Partner' and the 'Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)', seeking Malaysia's support.

After wrapping up the two-day visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, along with his entourage, will depart for Dalian, China.

The Foreign Secretary said that according to the proposed schedule, the Prime Minister will depart from Kuala Lumpur for Dalian on the afternoon of June 22 and is expected to arrive in the evening.