Anwar Ibrahim, Prof Yunus engage in bilateral discussions in Putrajaya

On Tuesday morning, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held bilateral talks in Putrajaya, Malaysia’s administrative capital, focusing on strengthening cooperation across a broad range of mutually beneficial areas.

The discussions covered progress in Bangladesh–Malaysia relations, particularly in trade and investment, labour, education, and tourism. They also addressed regional and global issues of shared concern, including the repatriation of Rohingyas. Both leaders met first in a restricted session, followed by delegation-level talks, where they outlined measures to elevate bilateral ties to new heights.

Later in the day, the two leaders are set to witness the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and exchange notes, before addressing a joint press conference. The MoUs are expected to cover cooperation in defence, energy, trade promotion, semiconductors, and strategic studies, while the exchanges of notes are likely to focus on diplomatic training, higher education, and the halal ecosystem.

Specifically, five MoUs are anticipated—on defence cooperation, energy cooperation, the formation of business councils between FBCCI and NCCIM, collaboration between BMCCI and Malaysian tech institute MIMOS, and cooperation between Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Malaysian Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS). Three exchanges of notes are expected in the halal ecosystem, higher education, and diplomatic training.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam. The visit also includes a series of other high-level meetings in addition to the bilateral talks.