KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia and Bangladesh will enhance cooperation through ASEAN frameworks to pursue a durable solution to the long-standing Rohingya refugee crisis, including engagement with Myanmar authorities, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said both countries remain firmly committed to addressing the plight of Rohingya refugees currently hosted in Bangladesh and Malaysia, Bernama reported.
He added that efforts would be channelled through foreign ministries and ASEAN platforms to facilitate diplomatic engagement with Myanmar.
“Through our common effort, (we will) try and work to resolve the predicament of refugees, Rohingyas, in Bangladesh and Malaysia through the good offices of the Foreign Minister and Asean mechanisms to engage with the Myanmar authorities, resolving part of the issue,” said Anwar during a joint press conference with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman here today.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation faced by Rohingya refugees in his country and thanked Malaysia for its continued support towards ensuring their safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar.
He said Bangladesh was keen to strengthen regional collaboration on multiple fronts.
“I express deep concern for the Rohingya people sheltered in Bangladesh and thank Malaysia for its continued support for their safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar,” he said.
Earlier, both leaders held bilateral discussions reviewing the progress of Malaysia-Bangladesh relations and exploring wider cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, human resource management, semiconductors, energy, agriculture and education.
They also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
The meeting was followed by the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cultural Cooperation, alongside two Exchanges of Notes (EoNs) covering Counter-Terrorism Research and Investment Promotion and Facilitation.
Tarique arrived in Kuala Lumpur last night for a two-day official visit at Anwar’s invitation, marking his first bilateral overseas visit since taking office in February 2026.
In 2025, total trade between Malaysia and Bangladesh stood at RM12.18 billion (USD2.84 billion), with Malaysian exports accounting for RM10.08 billion (USD2.35 billion), largely driven by petroleum products. Imports from Bangladesh totalled RM2.10 billion (USD0.50 billion), mainly comprising textiles, apparel and footwear.
Bangladesh ranked as Malaysia’s 28th largest global trading partner in 2025 and second largest in South Asia, as well as its second largest export destination and source of imports in the region after India. – June 22, 2026