Bangladesh-Malaysia sign eight agreements to strengthen ties

Bangladesh and Malaysia have taken significant steps to deepen their bilateral relationship by signing a total of eight cooperation agreements — five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and three Exchange of Notes — covering a wide range of sectors from defence and energy to education and trade.

The agreements were formalised today (Tuesday) in Putrajaya on the first day of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s three-day official visit to Malaysia. The signing ceremony was attended by Prof Yunus and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Office.

Diverse Areas of Cooperation
The three Exchange of Notes target strategic areas:

1. Higher Education: Signed by Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan and Bangladesh’s Adviser for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Asif Nazrul, aiming to expand student exchanges, academic collaboration, and joint research.
2. Diplomatic Training: Signed by Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan and Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, designed to enhance professional skills and cross-cultural competencies among diplomats.
3. Halal Ecosystem Development: Signed by Malaysian Deputy Minister Senator Zulkifli bin Hasan and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud bin Harun, focusing on trade, certification, and halal industry growth.

Five MoUs to Drive Strategic Collaboration

1. Defence Cooperation: Signed by Malaysian Defence Minister Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin and Touhid Hossain, paving the way for joint training, technology sharing, and security collaboration.
2. Energy Partnership: Signed by Malaysian Acting Economic Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah bin Azizan and Bangladesh’s Energy Adviser M Fouzul Kabir Khan, covering LNG supply, infrastructure development, and petroleum product trade.
3. Think Tank Collaboration: An agreement between Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) and the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), signed by Datuk Professor Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah and Bangladesh High Commissioner Md Shameem Ahsan, to foster joint policy research and dialogue.
4. Technology and Industry Links: Collaboration between MIMOS Services Sdn Bhd and the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI), signed by Mohamad Fauzi Yahaya and Shabbir Ahmed Khan, aimed at boosting innovation and industrial cooperation.
5. Chamber-to-Chamber Partnership: The National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) signed an MoU to expand trade missions, business networking, and market access.

Strengthening Economic and Diplomatic Bonds
Officials said these agreements are expected to not only strengthen government-to-government ties but also open new avenues for private sector collaboration. The deals could bolster trade volumes, attract investments, and facilitate skill development initiatives benefiting both countries.
Professor Yunus, who arrived in Malaysia on Monday, is scheduled to hold further high-level talks aimed at advancing economic, cultural, and people-to-people connections before concluding his visit.