Tarique begins first foreign tour as PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday began his first official foreign visit since taking office, travelling to Malaysia before heading to China as part of a tour focused on strengthening economic, diplomatic and bilateral ties.

The visit comes four months after he became Bangladesh’s 11th prime minister and marks a significant moment in his nearly four-decade political career. He left Dhaka for Malaysia on Sunday and is scheduled to travel to China on Monday.

The Malaysia visit, made at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, is expected to focus on expanding labour market opportunities, boosting trade and investment, and enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, Bangladesh and Malaysia are likely to sign two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and two Notes of Exchange. Key issues on the agenda include reopening employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers, introducing a transparent recruitment system, addressing concerns of undocumented migrants and improving embassy services.

Around 1.2 million Bangladeshis currently live in Malaysia, including many facing immigration challenges. Expatriates hope the visit will help resolve longstanding issues and create new opportunities.

Bangladeshi students and business leaders in Malaysia have also expressed expectations for greater cooperation in higher education, research, scholarships, technology, agriculture, manufacturing and the halal industry.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, followed by talks between senior officials of both countries. Discussions are also expected to cover labour migration, Bangladesh’s engagement with ASEAN and Malaysia’s role in the Rohingya repatriation process.

China visit to focus on cooperation

After Malaysia, the prime minister will visit China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. During the China trip, Bangladesh is expected to sign several agreements and cooperation documents.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said the two countries may sign 15 to 17 bilateral instruments, including MoUs, agreements, an action plan and a protocol. The Teesta Project is also expected to be discussed during the visit.

Tarique Rahman will hold talks with Premier Li Qiang on June 25 and meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 26. He will also attend the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, known as the Summer Davos Forum, in Dalian.

The forum, themed “Innovating at Scale,” will bring together global leaders to discuss economic growth, technology and innovation.

The prime minister’s delegation for both visits is expected to remain limited to around 27 to 28 members. He is scheduled to return home on Friday night.

JB/TZ