Malaysia-bound workers call off demo in city
FE REPORT | Thursday, 23 January 2025
Bangladeshi job aspirants postponed their demonstration in the capital on Wednesday following the government's assurance that they would be sent to Malaysia by March-April period.
Hundreds of job seekers thronged Karwan Bazar intersection and started a demonstration in the morning.
In the face of a police barricade, the protesters moved to another place for demonstration, creating a severe traffic jam in the area.
Sources said nearly 18,000 workers could not go to Malaysia on calling visas by the deadline despite paying money.
Many protesters alleged that they did not yet get back their money from recruiting agents.
Later, a delegation of the protesters met Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Prof Asif Nazrul, who assured them of sending them to Malaysia by March-April, Mainuddin Babu, one of the delegates, told the FE.
Following the assurance, the agitating workers postponed their movement, he added.
"If the government breaches its promise, we will resume our movement," he warned.
The adviser told us that those who have e-visas would be sent to Malaysia in phases by the end of March. And those who do not have e-visas or manpower have been asked to take money and passports from their agencies.
Arrangements would be made to send them to another country in phases, if they want, he explained.