A colourful reception marking the 68th National Day and 62nd Malaysia Day was held at the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Sheraton Dhaka on Sunday evening, organised by the High Commission of Malaysia in Bangladesh.
The programme began with the playing of the national anthems of both countries, followed by prayers.
Afterwards, H.E. Yousef Saleh Yousuf Ramadan, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Bangladesh, delivered his congratulatory address. He expressed deep appreciation for Malaysia’s steadfast support for Palestine, acknowledged the recent recognitions of the State of Palestine by several influential countries and urged those yet to do so to recognise Palestine without delay. He said, “We also deeply appreciate the crucial role of Saudi Arabia and President Macron of France, in partnership with Saudi Arabia, in leading the New York Conference on the Recognition of Palestine. Let us also not forget the courageous support of Sweden, which was the first EU country to recognize the State of Palestine 11 years ago.”
“We call on those countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so as soon as possible and without delay and to stand with the overwhelming majority of the international community rather than with the isolated minorities. Please accept the warm greetings of the Palestinian people, especially the people in the Gaza Strip who are facing genocide and famine. We look forward — especially noting the steadfast endurance of the people in Gaza — to their highest appreciation to you and to the people who support us, the great nation. We look forward with hope to the fulfillment of our aspirations and ambitions in establishing our independent state, the State of Palestine, so that we are able to live in freedom and dignity like anyone else in this world. Your support is highly appreciated. Our love, respect and appreciation will always be for the people of both Bangladesh and Malaysia for standing beside their Palestinian brothers and sisters. That will always be appreciated, and we will record that in our history for the generations to come.”
Following this, the welcome address was delivered by H.E. Mohammad Shuhada Osman, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh. In his remarks, he said, “Celebrating the 68th National Day and 62nd Malaysia Day is a matter of great honour. The visit of the Honourable Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Bangladesh last October has elevated our relations to new heights. Malaysia was the first Muslim country in Asia to recognise Bangladesh on 1 January 1972, laying the foundation for our enduring friendship.”
He underscored that trade and investment remain the cornerstone of bilateral ties, with Bangladesh being Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner in South Asia and bilateral trade nearing USD 3 billion. Cooperation has been expanding in the halal industry, technology, education, Islamic finance and other sectors. He also noted that Malaysia’s experience in Hajj management could benefit Bangladesh and praised the nearly 900,000 Bangladeshi expatriates in Malaysia as an important bridge between the two nations.
The keynote address was then delivered by Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, Adviser to the Ministry of Education of the interim government. He said, “On behalf of the Government and the people of Bangladesh, I extend warm felicitations to the Government and the brotherly people of Malaysia. Malaysia was one of the first Southeast Asian nations to recognise Bangladesh after our independence in 1971. Over the decades, our partnership has expanded to encompass human resources, trade, investment, education and cultural exchange.”
He noted that bilateral trade now stands at USD 2.9 billion, with Malaysian investments exceeding USD 3 billion through companies such as Robi, Axiata, Edotco and Mr. DIY. Highlighting people-to-people ties, he said nearly 900,000 Bangladeshis live and work in Malaysia, while Bangladesh is the second-largest source of foreign students to Malaysia. During the recent visit of the Chief Adviser to Malaysia, both sides emphasised enhanced cooperation in higher education, research and skills training, opening new avenues for joint programmes.
Professor Abrar also commended Malaysia’s leadership on the Rohingya crisis as ASEAN Chair, particularly its efforts to mobilise humanitarian support and keep the issue high on the regional agenda. He expressed hope that ASEAN under Malaysia’s chairmanship would move towards practical steps for a durable solution.
After the speeches, a ceremonial cake-cutting was held to mark the occasion. The event concluded with captivating Malaysian cultural performances that delighted the guests. Diplomats from various countries, political figures, retired military officers, senior government officials and eminent members of civil society attended the event.
