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Tareque Rahman is set to embark on his first foreign visit as Prime Minister today, Sunday (June 21). He will first visit Malaysia, followed by China. The Prime Minister will undertake a six-day tour covering both countries. After concluding his visit to Malaysia, he will be in China from June 23 to 26.
The Prime Minister’s visit to these two countries is considered diplomatically significant. Officials involved in the visit anticipate good news regarding the labor market from Malaysia. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Tareque Rahman will visit Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and two ‘Notes of Exchange’ might be signed during the Prime Minister’s visit to Malaysia. A key topic of discussion will be the re-opening of Malaysia’s labor market for Bangladeshis and the regularization of undocumented workers.
In addition to bilateral issues of mutual interest, trade will also be discussed, with a particular focus on the export of halal products. The business community hopes that the visit will bring new momentum to bilateral trade and investment. Opportunities for increasing joint ventures in the halal industry, technology, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors are expected to arise.
Expatriates are expressing optimism that Prime Minister Tareque Rahman’s visit to Malaysia will create a significant opportunity to reopen the long-closed labor market. The Malaysian labor market has been closed for a considerable period. Hopes are high that the Prime Minister’s visit will lead to a major breakthrough in re-establishing the labor market.
Expatriates hope the visit will result in effective measures to reopen the labor market, ensure syndicate-free calling visas, provide opportunities for undocumented workers to gain legal status, and resolve various issues related to the embassy. A transparent and syndicate-free worker recruitment system is one of the primary demands of Bangladeshis working in Malaysia.
A significant number of Bangladeshis in Malaysia are currently in an undocumented status for various reasons; some have fallen victim to employer fraud, while others have lost their legal status due to a shortage of employment opportunities. Expatriates believe that if a new regularization program is launched through high-level discussions between the two countries, it would bring immense relief to undocumented workers.
After his visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Tareque Rahman will depart for China. This visit is also considered extremely important. The direction of Dhaka-Beijing relations will be revealed during this upcoming trip.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam visited Beijing, where he held detailed discussions with China’s Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying regarding the schedule, agenda, potential agreements, and MoUs for Tareque Rahman’s visit to China. Furthermore, a team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is already in China in preparation for the Prime Minister’s visit.
It is learned that the Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Advisor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, and the Foreign Secretary.
The Prime Minister will participate in the World Economic Forum’s ‘Annual Meeting of the New Champions’ in Dalian on June 23. From there, he will depart for Beijing on the afternoon of June 24, reportedly traveling by bullet train.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated that Bangladesh’s agenda for discussions includes increasing trade and investment, energy cooperation, relocating Chinese industries to Bangladesh, establishing economic zones, the Teesta Master Plan, modernizing Mongla Port, and launching direct air flights between Guangzhou-Chattogram and Shanghai-Chattogram.
Additionally, China’s support will be sought for renewable energy, Bangladesh’s potential accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as an economic and international security organization. Progress on specialized hospital construction projects in Bangladesh, financed and supported by China, will also be discussed.
Diplomatic sources indicate that a bilateral agreement for establishing a 1,000-bed ‘Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital’ in Nilphamari might be signed during the Prime Minister’s visit. Dhaka anticipates China will provide grant funding for this project. Bangladesh may also sign an agreement with China for the implementation of the ‘Expansion and Modernization of Mongla Port’ project.
Furthermore, the government may seek Chinese funding for the Teesta Barrage Project, the proposed Padma Barrage Project, and several other large infrastructure projects.