Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is departing Sunday on his first foreign trip since assuming office, with visits to Malaysia and China on the itinerary. The six-day journey is centered on attracting overseas investment, expanding employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers, and establishing the new government’s foreign policy direction.
Rahman is set to fly to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday afternoon for a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He will then travel to China on Monday for a three-day official visit, extended at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
During the China portion of the trip, Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam told reporters Saturday that officials anticipate signing between 15 and 17 bilateral agreements. Siam also confirmed that the long-stalled Teesta River project would be part of the discussions.
Rahman’s schedule in China includes a meeting with Premier Li on June 25, followed by a session with President Xi Jinping on June 26. He is also expected to attend the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions — commonly referred to as the Summer Davos Forum — held in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian. The event brings together global business and political figures to discuss economic growth, innovation, and emerging technologies.
The China visit follows the Bangladeshi government’s recent approval of a 41.89 billion taka ($340 million) infrastructure project for the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chittagong. The initiative is backed by 24.67 billion taka in concessional Chinese loans and is projected to generate approximately 100,000 jobs while drawing more than $500 million in foreign direct investment in its first phase.
In Malaysia, talks are expected to center on labor migration, the hiring of Bangladeshi workers, and broader economic cooperation. Malaysia is one of the top destinations for Bangladeshi migrant workers, and the money those workers send home represents a vital source of foreign currency for Bangladesh.
The trip also carries significant diplomatic weight. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was removed from power during a mass uprising in 2024 and has since been residing in India, was widely regarded as having closer ties to New Delhi, though she also maintained a relationship with China and secured major Chinese-backed infrastructure deals during her tenure.
Relations between Bangladesh and India have shown some improvement since Rahman’s government took office in February, but friction remains — particularly over border tensions and alleged push-ins of migrants across the shared frontier.
Asif Shahan, a professor of development studies at the University of Dhaka, offered context on the diplomatic significance of the visits. “Although ties with India have improved somewhat, tensions persist, notably over border issues. Strengthening relations with China reflects Dhaka’s broader effort to balance its external partnerships,” he said.
Shahan added: “The visits are as much economic as diplomatic. China is crucial for investment, while Malaysia remains key for overseas employment — both align with the government’s economic priorities.”
