VERBATIM TEXT

JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE

WITH H.E. TARIQUE RAHMAN, PRIME MINISTER OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH

22 JUNE 2026

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

1. Of course, on behalf of all Malaysians, may I express my profound gratitude for the presence and for His Excellency Tarique Rahman of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to accept our invitation and to visit Malaysia. I’m so pleased that Malaysia is the first kind of country that he chose for his official visit. And that gesture is very much appreciated. That shows your deep affection and trust.
2. And we are fortunate because we have known your late father and mother. And I told him about my first experience in one session when I was still a youth leader meeting the father in the Mouchak camp and of course, with your late mother quite a number of times in bilateral meetings as I was then the Deputy Prime Minister.
3. And more than that, I mean brother Tarique Rahman and the family has endured hardships, struggles for being consistent in his ideals to defend freedom and progress of his people in his country whom he deeply love.
4. And we have shared limited experiences together, and I look forward to very much in terms of these personal relations and also to benefit both our great countries.
5. Our diplomatic relations was one of the earliest to recognise Bangladesh. And similarly, after the initial turmoil, I used the Bangladesh term Songram and Biplop continuously. There was elections and we were among the first to call and congratulate him personally. Even at that time, I said I look forward to his visit.
6. Now we have to enhance bilateral relations and we discussed his Foreign Minister, Home affairs and Trade and relevant ministries to take up this challenge to cement relations through fast track FTA, through enhanced and comprehensive partnership in all fields, not limited only to trade and investment, although that remains to be pivotal, but also to extend beyond that in terms of collaboration in all fields of research, new science, new technology of semiconductor, and AI. Because these are the challenges for our people in the future.
7. The exchange of notes extends beyond cultural cooperation, counterterrorism, research, and of course, the key is investment, promotion and facilitation.
8. Trade has been lukewarm in a way. We have Bangladesh is a big country, enormous potential, and with Malaysia, we should enhance our bilateral trade investments. And as I said, in new areas other than agriculture, which remains again one of the key areas, but then semiconductor, digital economy, energy, advanced manufacturing.
9. Now, human resource cooperation, particularly the workers, has been firstly critical for our economic survival, but at the same time has invited a lot of scandals and concerns, particularly humanitarian issues, treatment and also the challenge to make sure that it is more transparent and just.
10. I appreciate his candor, his commitment to share our common resolve. Yes, we need the workers. Yes, also, and more importantly, we have to protect the welfare of the workers and their families. This continued use of workers being exploited, ill-treated and purely for personal accompanying gains cannot be tolerated.
11. And I truly appreciate the sentiments expressed in private to me and also in the bilateral meetings that we must take the lead in stopping the excesses and making sure it is transparent, meets the requirement of both countries, but must protect the interests of these workers and their families.
12. We have arranged meetings with relevant authorities on other related issues like PETRONAS and Petrobangla on the LNG and Halal industry, collaboration education, culture and tourism and of course, through our common effort to try and work in influence to resolve the predicament of refugees Rohingya in Bangladesh and also here and to engage through the good offices of the Foreign Minister through ASEAN mechanisms, to engage with the Myanmar authorities to resolve part of the issue.
13. On global issues, on Palestine, on the plight of atrocities inflicted on Gaza by the Zionist-Israeli regime, on the support to the lasting peace in the Gulf and Iran. We are together, and we will continue to engage with all our partners to ensure there is peace.
14. Thank you again, Brother Tarique Rahman for being our guest and we consider you part of the enlarged family. You’ve been very kind and supportive, and I look forward to this strengthen of this family bonds and brother-relations between us.

Thank you.