Dhaka :  Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today left here for Malaysia on a two-day official visit.

A special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the Prime Minister and his entourage, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2.45 pm, Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon told BSS.

He said the Prime Minister is going on his first state visit to Malaysia.

"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 senior government officials saw off the Prime Minister at the 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, Defense Adviser AKM Shamsul Islam, and others.

This is Tarique Rahman's first foreign visit after assuming office as the prime minister.

Tarique Rahman became the Prime Minister with an absolute majority in the 11th national elections held on February 12 last.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said the labour market has been placed on the 'number one agenda' during the Prime Minister's visit to Malaysia.

He talked about the possibility of signing two documents with Malaysia on cultural exchange and a free trade agreement (FTA) during this visit to Kuala Lumpur.

Highlighting the Prime Minister's visit to Malaysia from June 21 to 22, Asad Alam said on the first day of the visit, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will be given a formal welcome in Malaysia on June 21.

He said the next day (on 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, talks will be held on expanding trade and investment, energy cooperation, halal economy, sending workers, semiconductor industry and agriculture, education and public relations, including establishing greater 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 during the visit to Malaysia, Bangladesh will strongly highlight its application to join ASEAN's 'Dialogue Partner and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership-RCEP' and seek Malaysia's support.

After concluding his two-day visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will leave for China with his entourage.