Deadline extension for BD workers likely

The government is trying to get extended the deadline for 17,000 Bangladeshi workers with approved work visas, who missed the May 31 deadline to reach Malaysia.
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud made the statement at a briefing at the ministry on Monday.
A high-level committee has been formed to probe the reasons why these workers were left out, he said.
On the other hand, state minister for the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury called for a special one-off period to be provided for these workers to enter Malaysia.
He told the Free Malaysia Today in a telephone interview that he would have a meeting on Wednesday with Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Haznah Md Hashim.
He said he had already appealed to her two weeks ago for an extension of the deadline "as we anticipated this problem".
He hoped the Malaysian government would consider the plight of the workers "whose future depends on getting jobs in Kuala Lumpur".
Otherwise, they would undergo extreme hardship, he said. Many of them would have emptied their savings or borrowed money to pay the agents for the documentation.
He said a typhoon, lack of flights, and poor coordination by agents, had prevented many from travelling to Dhaka and onward to Malaysia.
Choudhury said that all the workers have approved calling visas from the Malaysian immigration department and also valid cards from Bangladesh's Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training which are issued once the calling visas are approved and they are ready to travel.
Over the last week, agents and employers were seen rushing to the workers from Bangladesh to meet the May 31 deadline set by the Malaysian government in January for them to reach Kula Lumpur.
According to reports, workers have had to pay more for their flights and meet demands for high recruitment fees by unscrupulous agents.
The state minister said the ministry has formed a six-man committee to investigate these claims, adding that the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agents (Baira) could be responsible.
"The association did not cooperate with us when we asked for the list of names to arrange the flights. We will bring those responsible to book," he told the FMT.
However, he said the ministry's priority now is to ensure the stranded workers fly to Malaysia as soon as possible.

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