BANGLADESH’S Interim Chief Adviser, Dr Muhammad Yunus, has formally appealed to Malaysia for support in its pursuit of full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), expressing hopes for Kuala Lumpur’s backing during its current chairmanship of the bloc.
“We wish to become a part of ASEAN, and we need Malaysia’s support,” Yunus said in a statement issued following his meeting with Malaysian politician Nurul Izzah Anwar on Sunday at the Jamuna State Guest House.
Nurul Izzah, Vice-President of the People’s Justice Party (PKR) and daughter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is currently on a working visit to Dhaka.
Yunus voiced his hope that Malaysia could play “a key role in approving Bangladesh’s formal application” and help pave the way for eventual full ASEAN membership.
The meeting also included an exchange of condolences over a recent military jet crash in Dhaka, which claimed the lives of students from Milestone School and College.
“We lost so many lives in that tragic incident,” Yunus said.
He also briefed Nurul Izzah on Bangladesh’s current political transition following the fall of the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina, and described ongoing reform efforts.
“This movement was initiated by the youth, but eventually the entire population rose up against that fascist regime,” he said.
Dr Yunus further invited Malaysian companies to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh, highlighting the country’s large and youthful workforce as an economic asset. - July 28, 2025
