Dhaka, Oct 03 (V7N): Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is set to arrive in Dhaka on Friday afternoon for discussions aimed at elevating bilateral relations between Malaysia and Bangladesh. The visit will focus on exploring new areas of cooperation and strengthening ties across various sectors.

Invited by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the Malaysian Prime Minister is expected to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 2 PM. He will head directly to a hotel where he will stay for approximately four hours, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This marks the first visit by a Malaysian Prime Minister to Bangladesh in nearly a decade, making it the first official visit by any head of government since the interim government was formed on August 8.

The bilateral meeting between the Malaysian Prime Minister and Chief Adviser Prof. Yunus will take place at the hotel, followed by a joint briefing. The discussions will cover a range of topics, including economic, political, trade and investment, education, technology, human resource development, manpower export, higher education cooperation, communications, infrastructure development, and defense collaboration, as outlined by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain.

Additionally, the Rohingya issue is expected to be on the agenda, along with discussions about Bangladesh's potential designation as a "Sectoral Dialogue Partner" in ASEAN, especially as Malaysia is set to chair ASEAN from January 2025.

"This visit is crucial for our bilateral relations," the Foreign Affairs Adviser emphasized, noting that the Malaysian Prime Minister will receive a warm welcome in Dhaka as per state protocol.

The Malaysian Prime Minister will be accompanied by a delegation of 58 members, including the Foreign Minister, Trade and Investment Minister, Deputy Minister of Transport, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, two Members of Parliament, and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier in August, Prof. Yunus invited the Malaysian leader for a short visit to further strengthen the camaraderie between the two nations. Malaysia is the eighth-largest investor in Bangladesh, and the Malaysian Prime Minister recently reached out to Prof. Yunus to congratulate him on his appointment as chief adviser to the interim government.

Prof. Yunus has longstanding ties with Malaysia, with the Malaysian PM expressing readiness to assist the interim government in rebuilding and restoring peace and security in Bangladesh.

At least seven Malaysian universities host Yunus Centres, which promote the social business concepts he advocates. Malaysian companies, including those backed by sovereign funds, have invested over $5 billion in Bangladesh and are eager to invest further, particularly in education. Additionally, a second Malaysian car manufacturer has signed an agreement with a Chattogram-based firm for distribution and assembly operations.

Malaysia has also positioned itself as a preferred destination for medical tourism, offering affordable medical treatments to the Bangladeshi populace.

END/MSS/AJ