KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 – Bangladesh aims to move beyond its image as merely a source of migrant labor for Malaysia and is focused on establishing itself as a strategic partner across multiple sectors, according to Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia, Md. Shameem Ahsan.
In an exclusive interview on Bernama TV’s programme The Nation, Ahsan said that one of his main priorities is to reshape the narrative surrounding Bangladesh-Malaysia relationship.
“The common perception regarding our bilateral relationship is that Bangladesh primarily sends workers and that this defines our relationship, and while I don’t deny that this is partly true, but it does not reflect the full picture of our partnership.
“We have significant engagements in other areas, such as technology, the blue economy, science and innovation, and climate science, as well as very potential areas for collaboration like connectivity, education, tourism, culture, manufacturing, and agriculture, and we remain committed to shifting our relationship towards these sectors,” he said.
He highlighted that both countries have enjoyed longstanding ties since Malaysia became the first Southeast Asian nation to recognise Bangladesh’s independence in 1972.
”The partnership has since deepened, particularly in trade and investment, with Malaysia being Bangladesh’s eighth-largest global investor,” he said.
In discussing future prospects, Ahsan pointed out that Bangladesh is actively pushing for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Malaysia.
