Jamaat-e-Islami Naib-e-Amir Prof Mujibur Rahman, currently visiting Malaysia, held important discussions with Bangladesh High Commission officials in Kuala Lumpur on various problems facing Bangladeshi expatriates, particularly passport complications, worker recruitment, irregular migration and demand for skilled labor.
When he arrived at the high commission last Wednesday, he was welcomed by the commission’s counselor (political) and head of chancery, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, along with other high commission officials.
During the discussion at the Bangladesh High Commission, Prof Mujibur Rahman raised various passport-related problems facing expatriate Bangladeshis. He also asked officials whether there were any problems or obstacles in the high commission’s operations or in providing services to expatriates.
High Commissioner Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury laid out the situation of migrants in Malaysia in detail. He said Malaysia currently hosts an estimated 800,000 to 1.5 million migrants.
The high commissioner also told Prof Mujibur Rahman that Malaysia has a total of 37 prisons, which hold detainees of various nationalities, alongside 17 detention camps for undocumented migrants. He said roughly 1,900 Bangladeshis are currently held in these facilities, and officials were asked to provide them legal assistance.
On Bangladeshi students, he said roughly 11,000 Bangladeshi students are currently studying in Malaysia. He said the high commission continues to work on various issues concerning the interests of expatriate Bangladeshis.
The discussion also touched on free trade between Bangladesh and Malaysia. Officials said the high commissioner has taken the initiative to bring a free trade agreement or understanding into effect by this December, describing it as a good initiative by Prime Minister Tareque Rahman.
On the labor market, the high commissioner said discussions rarely address the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers directly; instead, most conversations focus on issues related to recruitment agencies, which he called deeply unfortunate. He said Malaysia currently needs skilled workers and that there is an opportunity to bring in skilled labor from Bangladesh.
He said Malaysia has roughly 2,500 recruitment agencies. Asked by Prof Mujibur Rahman about Bangladeshi women workers there and their dignity, the high commissioner said employment visas for women, both skilled and unskilled, are currently limited or unavailable.
There is a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on bringing Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia, currently valid through December, officials said. The discussion also covered how employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers could be made more effective going forward.
MP Mujibur Rahman told officials: “You represent Bangladesh here, so it is your responsibility to look after the welfare of Bangladeshis living here. We are ready to provide whatever cooperation is needed.” He asked that accurate information about Malaysia be provided to both the Bangladesh government and the opposition.
He also asked the high commission to take steps to curb the influence of middlemen, prevent financial disputes, and provide more transparent services to workers coming to Malaysia.
Also present at the event were High Commissioner Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, Deputy High Commissioner Mosammat Shahanara Monika and Head of Chancery Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya.
Also present were the Malaysia branch’s secretary general Dr Khairul Islam, Dr Yousuf Ali and Saifuddin Yahya.