On April 10, 2026, Bangladesh and Malaysia announced a significant enhancement in their educational collaboration, focusing on higher education, scholarships, and skills development. The announcement followed a bilateral meeting held in Putrajaya between Bangladesh’s Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education, Labour and Employment, Mahdi Amin, and Malaysia’s Minister of Higher Education, Zambry Abdul Kadir.
The meeting, also attended by Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, underscored the commitment of both nations to bolster bilateral relations in education. Malaysia expressed its support for the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and showed readiness to deepen institutional engagement.
Mahdi Amin emphasized Bangladesh’s strategic focus on enhancing global competitiveness through expanded international education pathways. He called for increased scholarship opportunities for Bangladeshi students in Malaysia and highlighted the need for structured scholarship frameworks to ensure academic excellence and student welfare.
In response, Zambry Abdul Kadir welcomed the proposals and indicated Malaysia’s willingness to expand scholarship allocations. Currently, more than 11,000 Bangladeshi students are studying in Malaysia, contributing positively to academic exchanges and socio-economic ties.
Both countries agreed to further develop university partnerships, academic exchanges, and joint programs. They also discussed mutually recognized qualifications and flexible learning pathways aligned with labor market needs, aiming to build a sustainable knowledge-based partnership.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, April 11, 2026
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