The recent human trafficking issue that came into limelight after unearthing of several mass graves in Thailand is likely to be discussed during the upcoming Bangladesh-Malaysia Joint Commission meeting beginning on Saturday.
Sources said as migration is one of the important agenda of Bangladesh, the issue of trafficking and illegal migration may come during the discussion.
The 4th Bangladesh-Malaysia Joint Commission meeting will be held on May 16-17 at Kotakinabalu in Saba province of Malaysia after 10 years of interval. Foreign ministers of both the countries will lead their respective side.
"Migration will be one of the important agenda, to be raised from Bangladesh side in the meeting. So the human trafficking issue will certainly be discussed," said a member of the delegation.
He also said the issue is now under discussion to finalise the agenda of Bangladesh.
Officials, however, said human trafficking issue is unlikely to be discussed in detail during the joint commission meeting, as it is more home ministry-level talk than trade and investment.
The meeting will mainly focus on increasing trade and investment apart from bilateral issues. The foreign ministry will lead the meeting, where ministries of expatriate welfare and commerce will also join.
They said Malaysia wants to highlight on issues like signing free trade agreement (FTA) and investment in energy, real estate and crude-oil handling, while Bangladesh on migration, education, tourism and infrastructure development.
Sources said Bangladesh is still unwilling to sign FTA since mobility of people is not included in it. Commerce ministry has briefed foreign ministry that the country is not yet prepared for the deal, as it would not be win-win for both the countries. The ministry is, however, conducting a study in this regard.
As per government-to-government arrangement between Bangladesh and Malaysia, signed in 2012, around 50,000 labourers are supposed to go to Malaysia every month. But official record showed that around 9,000 people could be sent there under the arrangement.
Sector insiders said despite high demand of workforce in the leading Asian country, insufficient facilities and non-cooperation from recruiting agencies, particularly from the Malaysian private agencies, are creating obstacles in the way of sending more Bangladeshi labourers there.
Since May 1, Thai police have unearthed several mass graves in the country's remote areas and rescued hundreds of people living in inhuman condition, who were allegedly being trafficked to Malaysia through Thailand on assurance of giving job.
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