Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today visits the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the 27th largest trading partner of Malaysia, as the bilateral trade amounted to RM12.7 billion in 2023.
Last year, Bangladesh was Malaysia’s 19th largest export destination and 47th largest import source, and also Malaysia’s 2nd largest trading partner in South Asia.
As at the end of 2023, there were 6,288 Bangladeshi students pursuing various disciplines in Malaysia’s institutions of higher education. Bangladesh workers have also contributed significantly to Malaysia’s economic development throughout the years, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh, Haznah Md Hashim, said this is the first visit by a head of foreign government since the formation of the Bangladeshi interim government, led by Chief Advisor and Nobel-laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.
“This visit echoes history, as Malaysia was the first Muslim country to recognise Bangladesh’s independence on Jan 31, 1972,” she told a press conference held in Dhaka.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to engage in a bilateral meeting with Dr Muhammad Yunus and is expected to pay a courtesy call on President Mohammed Shahabuddin before returning to Kuala Lumpur later this evening.
