PM returns home after Malaysia tour

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home this afternoon from Malaysia wrapping up her three-day official tour when Bangladesh and Malaysia signed four deals, aiming to further deepen ties between the two brotherly nations.

A VVIP flight of national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which left the Malaysian capital around 11:55am (Malaysian time), carrying the prime minister and her entourage reached Hajrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 1:40pm.

Deputy Leader of the House and Awami League presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, PM's adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, civil and military high officials welcomed her at the airport.

During her stay in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Malaysia signed an agreement on partial abolition of visa requirement, an MoU on cooperation in the field of tourism, one protocol amending the MoU of 2012 between Bangladesh and Malaysia on employment of workers and another MoU on cooperation in the field of culture, art and heritage.

During the official bilateral meeting at Putrajaya yesterday, Bangladesh and Malaysia agreed to boost bilateral trade and commerce, especially to reduce the trade gap, with Kuala Lumpur assuring Dhaka of starting negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Malaysia also assured Bangladesh of extending support to it to become Asean’s dialogue partner and hosting the next Joint Commission meeting between the two countries in 2015.

About the illegal Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, the Malaysian Prime Minister Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak said they are concerned about the matter and would look into it.

Talking at the ‘Dialogue on Investment and Trade Opportunities in Bangladesh’ at Hotel Grand Hyat, also yesterday, Hasina wooed Malaysian entrepreneurs saying that her government is revisiting Bangladesh’s entire investment facilitation regime to simplify processes for foreign investment.

On Tuesday, Samy Vellu, the Malaysian PM's Special Envoy of Infrastructure to India and Southern Asia, in a meeting with Sheikh Hasina said they are ready to build multi-storey housing buildings at Kamrangirchar on the outskirts of the capital to facilitate housing for the low-income group people.

The Malaysian PM's Special Envoy also expressed the interest to implement a crude oil handling project at Single Point Mooring in Chittagong.

Besides, former Malaysian Prime Minister and Chairman of Malaysian car manufacturer Proton Holdings Berhad Dr Mahathir Mohamad met Hasina on Tuesday and said Proton will open its plant in Bangladesh soon, creating employment opportunities for Bangladeshis.