PM leaves for Malaysia, manpower tops agenda
On the last leg of his official tour, the prime minister will visit China later on Monday
ATT Desk Report 
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has left Dhaka for the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Sunday on a two-day official visit, his first after taking office back in a February 12 general election.
A special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and his entourage departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:45pm, Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon said, reports state news agency BSS.
He said the PM is on his first state visit to Malaysia. After concluding his Kuala Lampur visit, he will head for Beijing on a two-day tour.
"This is a two-day visit. The Prime Minister is accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman. The Prime Minister's entourage is very small," he said.
Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Moni, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibli, diplomats and other senior government officials saw off the Prime Minister at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, State Minister for Energy and Power Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, Overseas Employment Adviser Mahadi Amin, Defence Adviser AKM Shamsul Islam and others.
This is Tarique Rahman's first foreign visit since assuming office as Prime Minister.
Tarique Rahman became Prime Minister with an absolute majority in the 11th national election held on February 12.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said the labour market has been placed at the top of the agenda during the Prime Minister's visit to Malaysia.
He spoke about the possibility of signing two agreements with Malaysia on cultural exchange and a free trade agreement (FTA) during the visit to Kuala Lumpur.
Highlighting the Prime Minister's visit to Malaysia from June 21 to 22, Asad Alam said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will receive a formal welcome in Malaysia on June 21.
He said the following day, June 22, a one-to-one meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries will be held at the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya, followed by a bilateral meeting between high-level delegations led by the heads of government of both countries.
During the visit, discussions will be held on expanding trade and investment, energy cooperation, the halal economy, labour migration, the semiconductor industry, agriculture, education and public relations, including strengthening cooperation between the two countries, he said.
"In particular, requests will be made for the recruitment of new Bangladeshi workers in various sectors in Malaysia and for the welfare of Bangladeshis," the foreign secretary added.
Asad Alam said Bangladesh will strongly highlight its application to become an ASEAN Dialogue Partner and join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and will seek Malaysia's support.
