Key facts
- Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit Malaysia and China in late June.
- This trip marks his first overseas visit since assuming office in February.
- The visit to Malaysia will focus on migrant worker welfare and labor migration.
- The visit to China is expected to cover Belt and Road Initiative projects and new investments in technology, renewable energy, agriculture, and healthcare.
Bangladesh's new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to embark on his first overseas trip since taking office in February, with visits planned for Malaysia and China later this month. Dhaka has stated that this itinerary reflects its independent foreign policy, with the decision to visit Malaysia and China before India seen as an effort to achieve diplomatic balance rather than a snub.
Rahman is scheduled to visit Malaysia from June 21-22, with discussions anticipated to center on migrant worker welfare, labor migration, recruitment costs, and legal employment channels. Malaysia currently hosts approximately 800,000 Bangladeshi workers, who constitute about 37 percent of the country's foreign workforce across various sectors including manufacturing, construction, plantations, and agriculture.