DHAKA, Oct 1, 2024 (BSS)- Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to pay a state visit to Bangladesh on Friday (Oct 4), Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain told media here today.

It would be the first high-level visit by a head of government of any foreign country since the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus assumed office after the fall of Awami League government on August 5.

Brieffing newsmen at foreign ministry here this afternoon, the adviser said the Malaysian PM will be accompanied by a 58-member delegation consisting members of his cabinet, deputy ministers, members of parliament, senior government officials and high-ranking representatives.

During the visit, the Malaysian premier will hold a one-to-one meeting with the Chief Adviser and also call on the President Mohammed Shahbuddin during his one day stay in Dhaka, Touhid said. 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was the first head of government to congratulate the interim government following its assumption of office, he mentioned.
 
The visit, he said, was swiftly arranged in response to the Malaysian premier’s eagerness to meet with Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

When asked Touhid said wide range of issues relating to mutual interests including economic cooperation, political relations, trade and investment, labor migration, education, technology, infrastructure development and defense collaboration will dominate discussion of the two head of the governments during the meeting. 

He said, Bangladesh is expected to seek Malaysia’s support in addressing the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis, as well as advance its aspirations to become a "Sectoral Dialogue Partner" within the ASEAN framework.

“We will discuss all issues and expect Malaysia, as an ASEAN member, to play an active role in resolving the Rohingya crisis,” Hossain added.

Malaysia’s upcoming chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025 will also be a prominent topic during the discussions, with hopes for greater regional cooperation on key issues, he added. 
The visit is expected to further strengthen the partnership between Bangladesh and Malaysia, enhancing collaboration across multiple sectors and deepening diplomatic and economic ties.
 
Upon his arrival in Dhaka, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will be welcomed with full state honor, reflecting the close and longstanding ties between the two nations.