Prime Minister Visit Malaysia on Sunday, Followed by China Tour

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to embark on his first foreign trip since assuming office. He will leave Dhaka on Sunday (June 21) for a six-day visit covering Malaysia and China. After completing the Malaysia leg of the trip, he will travel to China, where he is scheduled to stay from June 23 to June 26.

The visit is being viewed as highly significant from a diplomatic perspective. In particular, officials and observers expect positive developments regarding the reopening of Malaysia’s labor market for Bangladeshi workers.

According to officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the prime minister will visit Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. During the visit, the two countries may sign two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and two Notes of Exchange.

A bilateral meeting between the two prime ministers is expected on Sunday. Discussions will focus on trade, investment, labor migration, and the export of halal products, among other issues of mutual interest.

Officials at the Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia said labor market cooperation will be one of the key agenda items. They hope the talks will lead to important decisions on restarting the long-stalled recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.

Bangladeshi expatriates in Malaysia are also optimistic about the visit. They expect progress on labor market expansion, transparent recruitment procedures, the elimination of syndicate practices, and pathways for undocumented workers to regularize their status.

Community leaders say the visit represents a major opportunity to address long-standing concerns of Bangladeshi migrants living in Malaysia.

Bangladeshi students studying in Malaysian universities have also called for stronger cooperation in higher education, research partnerships, student exchange programs, and scholarship opportunities.

Meanwhile, business leaders believe the trip could boost bilateral trade and investment, particularly in the halal industry, technology, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors.

Following his Malaysia visit, Prime Minister Rahman will travel to China. Analysts believe the trip could help define the future direction of Bangladesh-China relations and strengthen cooperation between the two countries.