Just four months after assuming office as the 11th Prime Minister of Bangladesh, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to embark on his first official foreign tour.
Marking a significant milestone in his nearly 38-year political career, he will depart Dhaka for Malaysia on Sunday (June 21) before traveling onward to China on Monday (June 22).
The visit, taking place at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has generated considerable interest both at home and abroad. In particular, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Malaysia are viewing the visit with optimism and high expectations.
According to government sources, key priorities during the Malaysia visit will include expanding labor market opportunities, increasing trade, attracting investment, and strengthening bilateral cooperation. Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and two Notes of Exchange are expected to be signed between the two countries during the visit.
Currently, around 1.2 million Bangladeshis reside in Malaysia, a significant number of whom are living under irregular immigration status. Expatriates hope the visit will pave the way for reopening labor market opportunities, introducing a syndicate-free recruitment system, providing legalization pathways for undocumented workers, and addressing various embassy-related concerns.
Bangladeshi students studying at Malaysian universities are also closely following the visit. They have called for enhanced opportunities in higher education, research collaboration, student exchange programs, and scholarships. Meanwhile, the business community expects the visit to facilitate new investments and joint ventures in sectors such as the halal industry, technology, agriculture, and manufacturing.
On Monday, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, followed by bilateral talks between high-level delegations from both countries. Discussions are expected to cover the recruitment of new Bangladeshi workers, Bangladesh’s engagement with ASEAN, and Malaysia’s support regarding the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
Multiple Agreements Expected During China Visit
Following his Malaysia tour, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will travel to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The visit has also attracted significant diplomatic and economic interest.
Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam has stated that Bangladesh and China are likely to sign between 15 and 17 bilateral instruments, including 13 MoUs, two agreements, one action plan, and one protocol. The much-discussed Teesta Project is also expected to be among the topics of discussion.
On June 25, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will hold bilateral talks with Premier Li Qiang, while on June 26 he is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
As part of the China visit, the Prime Minister will participate in the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, in Dalian, Liaoning Province. Held under the theme “Innovating at Scale,” the conference is expected to bring together approximately 1,700 participants from more than 90 countries and regions. Discussions will focus on the global economy, technological advancement, and innovation-driven growth.
Government sources indicate that the Prime Minister’s delegation for both tours has been kept relatively small, consisting of approximately 27 to 28 members. He is expected to return to Bangladesh on Friday night.
A New Milestone in His Political Career
Tarique Rahman formally began his political journey in 1988 by becoming a primary member of BNP’s Gabtali Thana unit in Bogura. He was appointed Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP in 2002 and became the party’s Senior Vice Chairman in 2009.
Amid the political developments surrounding the 2007 military-backed caretaker government period, he was arrested on March 7, 2007, and remained imprisoned for nearly 18 months. After his release, he traveled to London for medical treatment and subsequently spent an extended period abroad. Following more than 17 years overseas, he returned to Bangladesh on December 25 last year.
After the death of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman assumed the position of party chairman on January 9. Under his leadership, BNP secured an overwhelming victory in the national election held on February 12, and he was sworn in as the country’s 11th Prime Minister on February 17.
An Emotional Connection with Malaysia
There is also an emotional dimension to Tarique Rahman’s decision to choose Malaysia as the destination for his first official foreign visit as Prime Minister. His younger brother, Arafat Rahman Koko, passed away in Malaysia on January 24, 2015. More than a decade later, Tarique Rahman is returning to the same country as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister on an official state visit.
Ahead of the Prime Minister’s arrival, BNP Malaysia held an emergency press conference at a restaurant in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday night. Journalists from Bangladesh and local Malaysian media attended the event.
Among those who addressed the gathering were BNP Malaysia President Badalur Rahman Khan, General Secretary Mosharraf Hossain, Organizing Secretary Mahbub Alam Shah, Mirza Salahuddin, Jubo Dal President Jasim Uddin, General Secretary Ramzan Ali, and Swechchhasebak Dal President S.M. Rahman Tanu, among others.
According to political analysts, the visits to Malaysia and China are intended to send a new message regarding Bangladesh’s regional diplomacy, economic cooperation, and multidimensional international engagement. For Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the tour also represents a significant milestone in his long political journey.
This translation preserves the structure, tone, and journalistic style of the original report while making it suitable for publication in English-language media.
ZB
