Ban on entry into Malaysia

Bangladesh is one of the 12 countries from where citizens would not be able to enter Malaysia until the next December, according to a decision by Kuala Lumpur. Although Malaysian authorities have set criteria for issuing such a blanket ban, the measures have become discriminatory to Bangladeshis. Apart from hundreds of thousands of expatriate workers, many Bangladeshis have to travel to Malaysia for a variety of business purposes.

This is a prelude to what may happen to millions of Bangladeshi workers who have been working in the Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This is high time the Bangladesh authorities contacted leaders and officials of conventional manpower importing countries to consider the issue of Bangladeshi workers. At the same time, overseas jobs opportunities should also be explored in new destinations in Europe, North America, East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Sabbir Ahmed

Leeds, the UK

[email protected]