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“We want to become a part of ASEAN, and we will be needing your support,” Yunus stated, emphasizing Bangladesh’s application to become a sectoral dialogue partner, a step toward full membership. Malaysia, as the current chair of ASEAN, is seen as pivotal in advancing Bangladesh’s application, which was first submitted in 2020.
The meeting also touched on recent events in Bangladesh. Nurul Izzah expressed condolences for the tragic fighter jet crash at Milestone school in Dhaka. “It’s a tragic and sad event for our country. We lost so many people,” Yunus responded.
Yunus congratulated Nurul Izzah on her new role as vice-president of her party and briefed her on Bangladesh’s ongoing political reforms. “We are going through a reform process. Our students took bullets on their chests and ousted the fascist Hasina regime. It started as a youth-led movement, but people from all classes joined,” he said, referencing the recent July Uprising. He noted that students had painted walls and streets, reflecting the movement’s spirit.
Highlighting economic opportunities, Yunus invited Malaysian firms to invest in Bangladesh, emphasizing the country’s youthful demographic. “Asia is ageing rapidly, but Bangladesh has a lot of young people. Half of our population is under 27. Set up your industries here and export from Bangladesh. It will help both our economies,” he urged.
The meeting was attended by Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi and Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed.
