Bangladesh accords red carpet reception to Malaysian PM

ZOOMBANGLA DESK : Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was on Friday accorded a red carpet reception on his arrival to Bangladesh on a very short official trip to take the relations between the two countries to a new height.

The Malaysian prime minister, who is leading a 58-member delegation, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital around 2:00pm.

Bangladesh’s interim government chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus received him amid a gun salute and guard of honour.

Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain and high commissioners of Malaysia and Bangladesh, among others, were present.

It is the first high-level visit by a head of government of any foreign country since the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus assumed office after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5.

After completion of airport formalities, the Prime Minister was taken to Hotel InterContinental Dhaka by a ceremonial motorcade where he will hold Tete-a-Tete (One-to-One) meeting with the Chief Adviser.

Later, the two leaders will hold bilateral level talks when wide range of issues relating to mutual interests including economic cooperation, political relations, trade and investment, labour migration, education, technology, infrastructure development and defense collaboration are expected to be discussed prominently.

During the meeting, Bangladesh is expected to seek Malaysia’s support in addressing the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis, as well as advance its aspirations to become a “Sectoral Dialogue Partner” within the ASEAN framework, said Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain in a media briefing here recently.

Later, a joint press statement will be issued, according to itinerary of the visit.

According to the programme schedule, the Malaysian premier will call on President Mohammed Shahbuddin at Bangabhaban. Anwar Ibrahim was the first head of government to congratulate the interim government following its assumption of office.

Wrapping up his one-day visit, the Malaysian Prime Minister will leave Dhaka at around 6:25 pm today.