Anwar arrives in Bangladesh for official visit

DHAKA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived here today for an official visit aimed at strengthening ties between Malaysia and Bangladesh.

According to Bernama, the aircraft carrying Anwar landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2 PM local time (4 PM Malaysia time).

The Chief Advisor of the Bangladesh Interim Government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, was at the airport to welcome the Prime Minister, along with other advisors and senior government officials from Bangladesh, as well as Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Haznah Md Hashim.

Anwar received a red carpet welcome, which included a 19-gun salute and honors from members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.

This visit, following Anwar’s three-day trip to Pakistan, will see the Prime Minister hold a bilateral meeting with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

The discussions aim to enhance and strengthen diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Bangladesh, while also fostering friendship between the two nations.

Anwar is also expected to pay a courtesy visit to President Mohammed Shahabuddin before departing for Kuala Lumpur later today.

Earlier, Haznah stated in a press conference that this is the first visit by a foreign head of government since the formation of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

“This visit reflects the historic close relationship between the two countries, as Malaysia was the first Islamic country to recognize Bangladesh’s independence on January 31, 1972,” she said.

During this visit, Anwar is accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan; Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Hasbi Habibollah; and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr. Zulkifli Hasan.

In 2023, Bangladesh was Malaysia’s 27th largest trading partner, the 19th largest export destination, and the 47th largest source of imports, making it Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner among South Asian countries.

Last year, trade between Malaysia and Bangladesh reached RM12.7 billion (US$2.78 billion).