Prime Minister to Embark on First Official Foreign Visit to Malaysia

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to undertake his first official foreign visit since assuming office, opting to travel to Malaysia despite receiving invitations from both India and China.

The earliest invitation came from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who invited Tarique Rahman to visit New Delhi shortly after the February election. Similar invitations were later extended by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Tarique Rahman, however, has chosen Malaysia as the destination for his first overseas trip as prime minister.

Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said preparations are underway for a two-day official visit to Kuala Lumpur on 21 and 22 June at the invitation of Anwar Ibrahim.

According to diplomatic sources and officials at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian government formally confirmed the visit through a letter sent on Monday (1 June).

Efforts are currently underway to arrange a bilateral meeting between the two leaders on 22 June, the second day of the visit.

The agenda and detailed itinerary have yet to be finalized. Diplomatic sources in both Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur said the programme is expected to be completed sometime next week.