Welcome Anwar Ibrahim's visit

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's brief visit to Bangladesh on Friday will be regarded as a milestone in relations between the two brotherly nations. His visit marks the first official visit by a head of government since the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has assumed office following the student-people uprising. The Malaysian PM happens to be a longstanding personal friend of Dr Yunus. Furthermore, his visit comes at a crucial juncture for Bangladesh, as the country is on a way to embrace significant reforms in various state affairs and seeks to reinvent itself as a newly reformed nation on the world stage. Ibrahim's reference to the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus as his 'great friend,' along with his expression of support for the government's reform measures and extension of economic co-operation, has certainly come as a big morale boost for the government.

The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Malaysia are currently on a positive trajectory, but there is ample room for improvement and no doubt Anwar Ibrahim's visit will significantly help achieve that goal. One key areas of co-operation will be the resumption of Bangladesh's manpower export to Malaysia, which has been suspended since May 31 this year. Malaysia imposed a blanket ban on the arrival of new foreign workers, partly in response to allegations of exploitation of migrant workers, especially those from Bangladesh. The closure of the labour market had triggered chaos at airports as thousands of Bangladeshis rushed to reach Malaysia before the deadline. Despite the frantic efforts, as many as 18,000 Bangladeshi workers were unable to fly in time, either due to purchasing counterfeit plane tickets or being duped by agents. These aspiring workers spent between Tk 0.5 and 0.7 million each for entry into the Malaysian labour market, but they neither made it to Malaysia nor received their money back. When the chief adviser brought the plight of these aspiring workers to the attention of the Malaysian prime minister, he promised to consider the entry of these hapless workers into the Malaysian job market.

Moreover, there is great hope in Bangladesh that Malaysia will lift the ban on the entry of Bangladeshi workers. However, the authorities in both countries must review and change the entire recruitment process, which has long been plagued by irregularities, corruption, and exploitation. Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul stated last Saturday that the government has taken steps to reopen the Malaysian labour market by dismantling the syndicate of 100 recruiting agencies and creating equal opportunities for all Bangladeshi recruiting agencies involved with sending workers to Malaysia. There should be a clear agreement with agreed common standards for fair recruitment practices, fees, and oversight mechanisms. Additionally, there is an urgent need for both Malaysian and Bangladeshi authorities to strictly regulate recruitment agencies in order to prevent fraud, manipulation, and ensure the wellbeing of workers.

Moreover, Anwar Ibrahim's visit will provide an opportunity for both countries to reaffirm their strong commitment to revitalising bilateral relations, with discussions focusing on potential collaborations in key sectors. Notably, Bangladesh and Malaysia have agreed to advance discussions on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signalling a shared vision for deeper economic ties. Furthermore, Malaysia has expressed its support for Bangladesh's bid to become a sectoral dialogue partner of the ASEAN. These initiatives collectively underscore the growing importance of the bilateral relationship between the two friendly nations and the mutual benefits it promises to bring.