Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has called on Malaysia’s top conglomerates to invest in Bangladesh’s affordable housing, port infrastructure, healthcare and education sectors.
During a series of high-level meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Prof Yunus met with prominent Malaysian business leaders to promote investment opportunities created through recent policy reforms in Bangladesh.

“It is time to invest in Bangladesh,” Prof Yunus said, emphasizing the interim government’s efforts to create a more investor-friendly environment.
In a meeting with Jeffrey Cheah, chairman and founder of the Sunway Group, Prof Yunus invited the company to invest in affordable housing projects; particularly targeting factory workers near industrial parks and economic zones.

Cheah, whose conglomerate has significant presence in construction, education and healthcare, responded positively, saying the group would “definitely” explore opportunities in Bangladesh.
Cheah also expressed interest in expanding educational access for Bangladeshi students through scholarship programs and acknowledged the valuable contributions of Bangladeshi workers employed in Sunway’s construction and housing sectors.

He mentioned urging Malaysian authorities to extend the work permits for these workers beyond the current six-year limit.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, who accompanied the Chief Adviser, highlighted the urgent need for investment in housing and infrastructure, especially in Bangladesh’s south-eastern region where new ports and economic zones are being developed.

He also encouraged the Sunway Group to consider establishing hospitals in Bangladesh, leveraging its healthcare expertise.
In a separate meeting, Malaysian business magnate Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary; owner of Proton and MMC Corporation Berhad, voiced his commitment to investing in Bangladesh, saying the initiative goes beyond profit-making. “We want to do this because of the Bangladeshi people,” he said.

Syed Mokhtar also emphasized the importance of responsible relocation practices in development projects involving rivers and fishing communities.
He expressed strong interest in Bangladesh’s renewable energy potential and food security initiatives, particularly in solar energy and agro-processing—sectors identified by BIDA as high-priority for foreign investment.
As a gesture of goodwill, Syed Mokhtar presented Prof Yunus with a commemorative book based on two decades of research on Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century Indian anti-colonial leader.
Prof Yunus reaffirmed that Bangladesh’s interim government is committed to supporting foreign investment through wide-ranging reforms and streamlined business procedures.