KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (NNN-Bernama) — A Centre for Malay Studies has now been established at the University of Dhaka (UoD) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka, in a statement, said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the setting up of the centre – which is a collaboration between Malaysia’s Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) and UoD – was signed at the UoD on Oct 10.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh Haznah Md Hashim while UPSI Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Amin Md Taff and Vice Chancellor of UoD Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman signed the MoU on behalf of their respective universities.
This formation of a Centre for Malay Studies at the UoD is a significant step towards strengthening bilateral relations. Both countries marked the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Bangladesh in 2022, according to the statement.
Malaysia enjoys close bilateral relations with Bangladesh, and the former was the first predominantly Muslim nation to recognise the sovereignty of the latter in 1971, which was followed by official correspondence on Jan 31, 1972.
“The High Commission of Malaysia strongly advocated for the establishment of a Centre for Malay Studies, towards the advancement of Malay language at international fora through cultural diplomacy.
“The Centre will also showcase a unique Malay culture and tradition as well as the best quality of Malaysian education,” it added.
Malay Language or Bahasa Melayu was a Lingua Franca which was widely spoken in commerce and diplomacy in the past and is currently spoken by about 300 million people in Southeast Asia.
— NNN-BERNAMA