Prime Minister leaves Dhaka for Malaysia

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has left Dhaka for an official visit to Malaysia at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

A regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka for Kuala Lumpur at around 2:45 PM on Sunday (June 21).

The Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary, Atiqur Rahman Rumon, confirmed the matter to the media.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, along with several cabinet ministers, advisers, senior government officials, and personal staff.

Following his visit to Malaysia, he will fly directly to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Ahead of the Prime Minister's dual-nation tour, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam held a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday (June 20).

15 to 17 Bilateral Agreements: During the visit to China, Bangladesh and China are expected to sign around 15 to 17 bilateral agreements, including 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), two agreements, one action plan, and one protocol.

Teesta Project Discussions: The long-awaited Teesta River development project is also high on the agenda for discussion with Chinese leadership.

Read More: Govt considering alternative to reduce bank loan dependency

First Foreign Tour: The Foreign Secretary noted that this is the Prime Minister's first foreign trip since the current government took office in February this year.

Streamlined Delegation: The delegation accompanying the Prime Minister has been kept relatively small, consisting of about 27 to 28 members, in an effort to keep the tour streamlined and efficient.

Foreign Secretary Siam highlighted that these visits represent a major diplomatic initiative aimed at strengthening Bangladesh's economic partnerships, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), and enhancing regional connectivity.

June 25: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will hold formal bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

June 26: He is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Summer Davos Forum: As part of the official tour, the Prime Minister will attend the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions (Summer Davos Forum) in Dalian, Liaoning Province, from June 23 to 25. Under the theme "Innovating at Scale," the forum will host over 1,700 delegates from more than 90 countries to discuss global economic trends and technological innovation.

The Malaysian leg of the tour will focus heavily on trade expansion, labor market cooperation, and boosting investment opportunities. The subsequent visit to China will emphasize deepening cooperation in infrastructure, technology, connectivity, and development sectors.

The Prime Minister is expected to return home on Friday night, June 26.