BANGLADESH AIMS TO FINALISE FTA WITH MALAYSIA IN 2026

By Rohani Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Bangladesh aims to expand trade and investment cooperation with Malaysia, with finalising the long-discussed Free Trade Agreement as its top priority this year. 

Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury said the FTA negotiations started several years ago and have progressed following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to  Dhaka in 2024.

“So far, we have agreed to the terms and conditions of the FTA negotiation. The objective is definitely to conclude it as soon as possible. But these are very complex and complicated negotiations. It takes time,” he told Bernama in an interview at his office recently. 

According to Chowdhury, in addition to trade, Bangladesh is also looking to expand its cooperation with Malaysia in digital technology as well as education. 

There are currently over 10,000 Bangladeshi students studying in Malaysia with the South Asian nation being the second-largest source of foreign students in Malaysia.  Bangladeshi teachers are also teaching in Malaysian universities and colleges, he added.

He said ties between Bangladesh and Malaysia are sometimes portrayed in the media as being based solely on Bangladesh supplying human resources to Malaysia.

“We want to come out of this (image),” Chowdhury said, adding that the High Commission hoped to see greater media focus on growth of other sectors of the bilateral ties. 

“Because in human resources, we have reached a certain level. It is satisfactory. But one thing will always remain in our focus is the welfare of our workers in Malaysia and we will continue to engage with the Malaysian government,” he said. 

Chowdhury also affirmed that Kuala Lumpur-Dhaka relations will remain robust and constructive going forward, adding that the long standing ties — now entering their 54th year — will be further deepened and expanded into more meaningful areas. 

He said the past two years have seen strengthened high-level engagements between the two countries.

Anwar visited Bangladesh in October 2024 while Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh Prof Muhammad Yunus visited Malaysia in August 2025. 

“The two leaders have agreed on many things during their visits. And after Bangladesh’s 13th general elections on February 12, whoever becomes the next leader, closer relations and cooperation with Malaysia will get due priority.

“It is because Malaysia is a stable friend and a partner of Bangladesh. The ties is not one-sided, it is based on fraternity and mutual respect, and bilateral cooperation is mutually beneficial,” he said. 

In 2024, total trade between Malaysia and Bangladesh reached RM13.35 billion (US$2.92 billion), an increase of 5.1 per cent compared with 2023. 

Bangladesh is Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner and export destination in South Asia, and major exports include petroleum products, palm oil, and chemicals, while imports from Bangladesh comprise textiles, footwear, petroleum products, and manufactures. 

-- BERNAMA