Prime Minister Tarique Rahman departed for Malaysia on Sunday afternoon, embarking on his first overseas visit since assuming office in February.

The two-day state visit, undertaken at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, is aimed at strengthening economic ties, boosting investment, expanding labor market opportunities, and deepening strategic cooperation between the two nations.

A special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, and a 23-member high-level delegation took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:45 pm for Kuala Lumpur.

Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon confirmed the schedule, stating, “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is travelling to Malaysia on his first state visit at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. It is a two-day tour. From Malaysia, he will go to China on a four-day official visit.”

The Prime Minister’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit and several advisers, including Humaiun Kobir, Mahdi Amin, and AKM Shamsul Islam.

Senior officials, including the Cabinet Secretary and the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, ABM Abdus Sattar, are also accompanying him.

The Prime Minister was seen off at the airport’s VVIP lounge by Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, and Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly noted that the airport send-off followed an updated protocol established under the Prime Minister’s recent directive, requiring only the senior-most cabinet minister, the Chief Whip, the Cabinet Secretary, and the Principal Secretary to be present.

Upon his scheduled arrival in Kuala Lumpur at 8:45 p.m. local time, the Prime Minister will be received with a formal welcome.

On Monday, he is set to visit the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office, Perdana Putra, in Putrajaya for a restricted meeting with Anwar Ibrahim, followed by bilateral discussions led by the two heads of government.

Key topics on the agenda include cooperation in trade, investment, energy, the halal economy, the semiconductor industry, agriculture, and education.

Notably, the expansion of the Malaysian labor market for Bangladeshi workers remains a top priority, with discussions focusing on the recruitment of professionals, the protection of worker benefits, and skills development.

Following the talks, the two leaders are expected to witness the exchange of documents, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cultural cooperation and a Terms of Reference to initiate negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), before holding a joint press conference.

The Malaysian Prime Minister will also host a luncheon in honor of his guest.

After concluding his engagements in Malaysia, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will depart for Dalian, China, on Monday afternoon to attend the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, hosted by the World Economic Forum.

During the four-day visit to China, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold high-level meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping. Officials indicate that Bangladesh and China are expected to sign 15 to 17 bilateral instruments, including 13 MoUs, two agreements, one action plan, and one protocol.

The Prime Minister is expected to return home on June 26, concluding his first official tour as head of government.