Malaysia to recruit 0.15m BD farm workers

Malaysia is interested to recruit 0.15m (1.5 lakh) Bangladeshi farm workers for development of its agriculture sector, said visiting Malaysian Home Minister Dr. Ahmed Zahid Hamidi Tuesday, reports UNB.

Dr Hamidi said this when he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office. Prime Minister's Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil briefed reporters after the meeting.He said the Prime Minister urged the Malaysian government to recruit more Bangladeshi workers under the ongoing government-to-government system. They also discussed recruiting workers from Bangladesh under private initiatives.The Malaysian minister laid emphasis on imparting training to local workers, and said his country will recruit more skilled workers in different sectors.

About legalisation of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, Hamidi said the process to legalise them has started.

He thanked the Prime Minister for taking steps in searching the Malaysian missing plane with Bangladesh's naval frigates and patrol aircraft, and informed that Malaysian Cabinet held discussions over Sheikh Hasina's letter conveying sympathy.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned with gratitude that Malaysia was the first Muslim country that recognised independent Bangladesh on January 31, 1972.

Referring to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's visit to Malaysia, she said the foundation of Dhaka-Kualalampur ties got consolidated with that visit, and it has now reached a new height.

The Prime Minister also recalled the Malaysian Prime Minister's visit to Bangladesh during November 17-19 last year, terming it very important in the context of ties between the two brotherly countries.

She expressed the hope that the existing friendly ties between the two brotherly countries would be strengthened further in the days to come.

Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin, PM's Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Principal Secretary to PM Abdus Sobhan Sikder and Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Norlin Binti Othman were present, among others.

FE correspondent from Chittagong adds, the Malaysian Home Minister Tuesday visited the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). He was accorded reception by the CCCI directors at its conference hall.

He was accompanied by Malaysia's Honorary Consul in Chittagong A K M Shahidul Islam, Permanent Secretary of Malaysia government Mr Samion, Deputy Secretary Wahab bin Md Yasin and Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs Division Tenku Amin bin Tuan Solaiman.