Amid ongoing speculation and political noise, the long-awaited reopening of Malaysian labour market for Bangladeshi workers is set to become a reality, thanks to renewed diplomatic engagement by the interim government.
The Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between Bangladesh and Malaysia is scheduled to be held in Putrajaya in the second week of May, with Advisor Asif Nazrul expected to lead the Bangladeshi delegation.
Ordinary members of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) have extended their heartfelt appreciation and best wishes to the Advisor, officials, and all levels of staff at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
BAIRA members stated that some leaders within the organization have repeatedly tried to corner Yunus Govt by blaming the syndicate, the online system, or labor contracts. They believe that a small group of leaders’ irresponsible remarks in the media and unnecessary debates over foreign labor markets are hurting Bangladesh’s image abroad and straining bilateral ties.
Allegations have surfaced suggesting that these activities are being orchestrated in line with the prescriptions of the fallen Hasina regime. Their main agenda appears to be throttling remittance flow by halting labor exports.
BAIRA’s general members are united in one demand: the immediate reopening of the labor market under any conditions. “We are ready to comply with all the requirements set by the labor-receiving countries. Only the cronies of fascism are trying to impose unnecessary conditions on the labor market,” they claimed.
Out of the 14 countries from which Malaysia plans to recruit 1.2 million workers, Bangladeshi workers remain the top choice for employers. However, it is unfortunate that due to the continuous negative campaigns and press conferences by certain familiar faces in the manpower sector, Bangladesh has fallen behind the other 13 countries, which have already begun sending workers.
There is a unanimous call: stop the unnecessary criticism and disruptive conditions aimed solely at discrediting the government. Those who are deliberately delaying the opening of the Malaysian labor market are enemies of the nation and puppets of fascist forces. If firm action is not taken against them now, this sector could soon face devastation. It is also imperative to investigate who is inciting attempts to sabotage the longstanding friendly relations between Malaysia and Bangladesh.
The friendly ties between Bangladesh and Malaysia are not new. On February 24, 1972, Malaysia recognized Bangladesh’s independence. In 1999, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visited Bangladesh. The following year, then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid an official visit to Malaysia. In November 2013, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak visited Dhaka, followed by Sheikh Hasina’s second visit to Malaysia in December 2014. Nearly 11 years later, in October last year, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited Bangladesh, signaling a renewed commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
Meanwhile, as Malaysia seeks relief from U.S. tariffs, China is considering significantly increasing its investments in the country. Malaysia has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the U.S.-China trade war, leading to the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs in Chinese-owned companies based there. Bangladesh stands poised to become a key supplier of labor to meet this demand.
Malaysia is on a determined path to becoming a developed nation, while Bangladesh, recently promoted to a middle-income country, is also aspiring to secure its place among developed nations. Both countries are steadily expanding the scope of their mutual cooperation and strategic partnership.
