Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged the Malaysian government to swiftly reopen its labour market and expand the recruitment of Bangladeshi nationals.
The appeal was made during a joint press conference alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, concluding Tarique Rahman’s two-day official visit to the country. The summit marks the Bangladeshi premier’s first foreign trip since taking office in February 2026, following a parliamentary election that granted his administration a decisive mandate.
“I requested His Excellency Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to consider recruiting more Bangladeshi workers, as well as to open the labour market as soon as possible,” Tarique Rahman stated, emphasising that the recruitment framework should be transparent, equitable, and cost-effective by minimising intermediary interference.
The bilateral discussions covered a comprehensive range of sectors, including information technology, energy, infrastructure, the digital economy, and semiconductors. Beyond fresh recruitment, the Bangladeshi leader raised critical issues regarding the regularisation of undocumented Bangladeshi workers currently in Malaysia, as well as the potential repatriation of those held in detention facilities.
Strengthening economic and regional ties
Trade relations featured prominently in the summit-level talks. Both leaders welcomed the steady expansion of commercial exchange between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur and agreed to fast-track negotiations toward a formal Bangladesh-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement.
Tarique Rahman highlighted his administration’s focus on job creation, attracting foreign direct investment, and accelerating economic growth through the establishment of a business-friendly domestic environment. He invited Malaysian corporations to explore investment opportunities in emerging high-value sectors in Bangladesh.
The legacy of bilateral cooperation was also acknowledged, with Tarique Rahman noting that the foundational frameworks for labour and political ties between the two nations were established during historic visits by his father, former President Ziaur Rahman, in 1979, and his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, in 1993.
On regional matters, Bangladesh expressed gratitude for Malaysia’s sustained support regarding the safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees sheltered within its borders. Furthermore, Dhaka is actively seeking closer integration with Southeast Asian economies, expressing strong interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and securing status as an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner—an ambition Tarique Rahman noted Malaysia continues to support.
The two nations concluded the summit by exchanging several bilateral agreements aimed at sustaining positive diplomatic and economic momentum.
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