Malaysia has expressed support for Bangladesh's proposal to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Haznah Md Hashim said on Sunday.

“Under the ASEAN framework, all 10 member countries hold equal status, and no one can unilaterally reject a membership bid. As a close friend, I can say that the doors will open for you one day,” she added.

The envoy was speaking at a lecture titled “Bangladesh-Malaysia Relations: Moving Towards Prosperity,” hosted by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in the capital.

In her speech, the high commissioner reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh.

“We are your trusted friend, as proven since the very beginning of your independence. We are extending our hands to our Bangladeshi friends,” she said.

Referring to discussions with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser regarding the ASEAN membership proposal, Hashim emphasized Malaysia’s “open support” for the request.

Hashim also highlighted the importance of expanding Bangladesh-Malaysia bilateral ties in areas such as trade, investment, labor migration, technological and industrial cooperation, human resource development, diplomacy, and cultural exchanges.

She also provided valuable insights into the current state of Bangladesh-Malaysia relations and offered guidelines for deepening cooperation in the future.

The event was attended by Bangladesh’s Additional Foreign Secretary, Ambassador M Riaz Hamidullah, as the special guest.

The keynote presentation was delivered by High Commissioner Hashim, while BIISS Chairman Ambassador A F M Gousal Azam Sarker chaired the session.
 
BIIS Director General Major General Iftekhar Anis delivered the welcome address.
Following the lecture, an open discussion was held, focusing on how to further strengthen Bangladesh-Malaysia relations.

The event also marked the resumption of BIISS’s Country Lecture Series, which had been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The series, first introduced in 2013, aims to enhance Bangladesh's understanding of its partner countries and explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation.