Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain left Dhaka for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Wednesday to attend the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), scheduled to be held on July 10-11.

A senior official at the foreign ministry confirmed that the adviser departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport this noon and is expected to return home on July 12 upon completion of his engagements.

Bangladesh, as a committed partner of the ARF, will join discussions with regional and international stakeholders on maintaining peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region through dialogue and cooperation, aligning with the country's broader foreign policy priorities.

The ARF, established with the aim of promoting constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific, was officially launched in Bangkok on July 25, 1994, following the agreement at the twenty-sixth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in Singapore in July 1993.

Bangladesh was formally admitted as a member of the ARF during the inaugural session of its thirteenth Annual Ministerial Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on July 28, 2006.

The Foreign Ministry officials said the Foreign Adviser’s participation in the 32nd ARF will focus on further enhancing Bangladesh’s regional engagements, with discussions expected on maritime security, disaster management, and collaborative frameworks to address emerging regional security challenges.