Online Desk: The Government of Bangladesh will work with Malaysia to investigate allegations of militancy against Bangladeshi nationals who were arrested recently by the Malaysian Police, said the Bangladesh Foreign Adviser H.E. Touhid Hossain at a bilateral meeting with the Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan held on Friday in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting.
The Foreign Adviser expressed his concerns with the arrests of Bangladeshi nationals over allegations of terrorism. He reiterated the firm stand of the Government against terrorism and sought Malaysia’s cooperation in its own investigation into the allegations through exchange of information and findings. The Malaysian Foreign Minister assured to facilitate access and cooperation to the Bangladesh authorities.
Earlier, the Foreign Advisor met the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy where the two leaders held discussions on diverse bilateral, regional and multilateral issues. Both sides discussed, among others, the ongoing reforms in Bangladesh, Rohingya crisis, post-LDC graduation support, etc.
The Foreign Adviser also called on H E Mr. Winston Peters, the Foreign Minister of New Zealand, H.E. Mr. Hon Vijitha Herath, the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Park Yoonjoo the Vice Minister and Head of Delegation of the Republic of Korea where a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues were discussed.
Bangladesh became a member of ARF in 2006, a forum established in early nineties to promote confidence and trust among its 27 members that include countries in the broader Asia-Pacific. At present, Bangladesh is co-chairing two of the ARF priority areas, “Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime” and “Disaster Relief.” The next session of the ARF Ministerial Meeting is scheduled to take place in Manila in 2026.
In the afternoon, the Foreign Adviser delivered the national statement at the Ministerial Meeting of ASEAN Regional Forum where he called for greater attention to the Rohingya crisis, inc consideration of its national and regional security implications. The Foriegn Adviser also urged the ASEAN members to positively consider Bangladesh’s bid to become Sectoral Dialogue Partner.
The Foreign Adviser was accompanied by H. E. Md. Shameem Ahsan, the High Commissioner of Bangaldesh to Malaysia , Mr Md Forhadul Islam, Director General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other senior officials of Bangladesh Government.
