Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman's First Visit Abroad Likely To Be Malaysia, Then China: Report

Months after assuming the office, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to make his first overseas visit to Malaysia on June 21-22, followed by a tour to China starting June 23.

The announcement came after extensive government deliberations over the choice of destination for the Prime Minister’s first-ever overseas visit,

given the tense geopolitical scenarios and competitive regional environment, The Daily Star reported.

According to the report, foreign policy observers opine that the decision to choose Malaysia reflects a highly calculated and balanced approach by the Bangladesh’s government.

Initially, discussions on Rahman’s visit to Bhutan or Saudi Arabia instead of India or China were taken up. However, the decision falls

in line with the government’s “Bangladesh First” policy — A significant shift from the previous Awami League’s “Friendship to all, malice to none” dogma.

Experts also suggest that the government refrains from sending geopolitical signals by favouring either Beijing or New Delhi, choosing a middle-power Southeast Asian nation for the Prime Minister’s first official visit abroad.

“Just days ahead of Eid, prime minister expressed interest that his first visit would be to Malaysia before China,” a senior government official told The Daily Star. 

Agenda Of Malaysia Visit

According to officials, PM Tarique Rahman is likely to discuss several issues during his visit to Malaysia, with key subjects including — migrant welfare, education cooperation, and enhancing trade and investment.

Around 12,000 Bangladeshi students — second only to Chinese students — are currently pursuing education in Malaysia, as per a report by The Daily Star. 

The Most Anticipated One: Tour To China

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to China will be a closely watched one. Dhaka relies heavily on imports from China, with annual imports worth about USD 25 billion.

Investments by China — a key development partner in infrastructure — took a nosedive after the collapse of the Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) government and the subsequent political unrest in the country.

With the formation of a new government, the two sides are likely to revive discussions on funding and investment, according to The Daily Star. 

Tarique Rahman, a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh in February, 2026, following the party’s historic win in the general elections.