Staff Reporter :
The government has taken steps to ensure that 18,000 workers, who were unable to travel to Malaysia within the stipulated timeframe despite holding valid visas, can reach their destinations by March and April. Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Ruhul Amin provided this update to reporters at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
“If the Malaysian government confirms their readiness to receive the workers within 15 days, we will be prepared to send them within that period. The next steps now depend on Malaysia,” Ruhul Amin stated, underscoring Bangladesh’s urgency and readiness to resolve the issue.
Addressing concerns about delays, he expressed optimism regarding ongoing discussions. “Given the current momentum of talks, we are hopeful that the process will not take too long. Our aim is to finalise everything by February and commence sending workers by March or April,” he said.
The government has recently formed a special committee to address the issue, with two meetings already held, leading to significant progress. Ruhul Amin noted, “We expect another meeting at the end of February. We have provided all the required information, and they have shared their details with us as well. Many of our proposals have already been accepted in principle, but some matters remain unresolved.”
He elaborated on the procedural steps, stating, “Once the ministry-level discussions are concluded and our proposals are approved, the final process can commence. Although much has been agreed upon, it will proceed step by step.”
Earlier in the day, hundreds of stranded migrant workers blocked vehicular movement in Karwan Bazar for nearly three hours, demanding swift government intervention to facilitate their travel to Malaysia. These workers were originally scheduled to travel through recruitment agencies on 31 May 2024; however, ticketing complications disrupted their plans.
The difficulties faced by these workers highlight long-standing challenges in labour migration. Despite holding valid visas, logistical and administrative obstacles have frequently left many stranded. On 5 October 2024, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul announced that Malaysia had agreed to receive the 18,000 Bangladeshi workers who missed the initial deadline.
Previous cases of stranded workers have exposed inefficiencies in coordination between recruitment agencies, airlines, and government authorities. Many workers, having sold assets or taken loans to finance their migration, have faced severe financial and emotional distress due to disrupted travel plans.
With the government now implementing expedited measures, there is renewed hope for a resolution. The administration’s current focus on ensuring the timely departure of these workers reflects its commitment to addressing the grievances of affected migrant labourers and improving the overall efficiency of the migration process.
