Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday urged former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to assist Bangladesh in its bid to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“As Bangladesh is actively seeking ASEAN membership, Professor Yunus sincerely requested Mahathir Mohamad to look into the matter, leveraging his stature and reputation,” CA’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters on the outcome of the meeting between Prof Yunus and Mahathir Mohamad held on the sidelines of the Nikkei Forum: 30th Future of Asia.
They discussed issues of mutual interest during the 40-minute meeting, including Bangladesh’s desire to become an ASEAN member and Rohingya repatriation.
The Press Secretary said Mahathir assured he would always remain a friend of Bangladesh and pledged his support in Bangladesh's efforts to secure ASEAN membership.
Bangladesh applied to become a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN several years ago with the aim of becoming a full member. Malaysia is the current chair of the South East Asian grouping.
“We need Malaysia’s support to become an ASEAN member,” the Chief Adviser told Mahathir, who played a key role in establishing ASEAN as a powerful regional body during his time as the Malaysian Prime Minister.
After delivering his speech at the Nikkei Forum, the Press Secretary said Prof Yunus met with Dr Mahathir and revisited the memories they shared during their decades-long friendship.
Since Mahathir will turn 100 years old on July 10, he said the Chief Adviser wished him an advance 'Happy Birthday' and conveyed his birthday wishes.
“I wish you a very happy 100th birthday in advance,” the Chief Adviser told Mahathir, who served as Malaysian Prime Minister for 24 years from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020.
The Press Secretary said the two leaders also discussed the historic mass uprising that Bangladesh witnessed last year.
He said they talked about the professionalism and sincerity with which Bangladeshis are working around the world, which has earned the country a solid reputation globally.
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The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh is also thankful to Malaysia, as the country employed hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi people in the country in various sectors.
“In every village of Bangladesh, people know about Malaysia because people travel to the country for employment,” he said.
Mahathir said many Bangladeshis also established businesses in Malaysia and were doing well as entrepreneurs.
Mahathir recalled how Malaysia thrived due to his Look East policy and asked Bangladesh to undertake similar policies.
The Chief Adviser said that Bangladesh was also trying to increase its trade and bilateral relations with Malaysia’s neighbouring country, Indonesia, which, unlike Malaysia, is not a household name in Bangladesh.
Professor Yunus also requested Mahathir to use his influence to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
The Press Secretary said Prof Yunus invited Dr Mahathir to visit Bangladesh at a time convenient for him.
The 99-year-old Mahathir said he would accept the invitation only if he was allowed by his physicians, who had restricted his travel due to his health condition.
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Earlier, in his keynote address at the inaugural session of the Nikkei Forum: 30th Future of Asia, the Chief Adviser called on Asian nations to chart a new course of cooperation, inclusion, and sustainability.
He also outlined a seven-point agenda aimed at transforming Asia into a hub of shared prosperity by unlocking new opportunities.
Prof Yunus arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday afternoon to attend the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia and hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.