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CA Urges Malaysia to Issue Multiple-Entry Visas for BD Workers
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has urged Malaysia to grant multiple-entry visas to Bangladeshi workers employed in the country, aiming to make it easier for them to return home as needed. The request was made during a meeting with Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Mohd Shuhada Othman, at the State Guest House Jamuna today.
Professor Yunus also raised the issue of 18,000 Bangladeshi workers who missed the deadline to join their jobs in Malaysia in May 2024, calling on the High Commissioner to facilitate their entry into the country. The Malaysian envoy shared that a joint technical committee, comprising officials from both countries, had met in Kuala Lumpur on December 31, with another meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
Recalling his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Dhaka last October, Professor Yunus expressed hope that Malaysia would expedite the process, enabling future batches of Bangladeshi workers to migrate smoothly for employment.
Congratulating Malaysia for assuming the ASEAN chairmanship from January 1, 2025, Yunus also sought support for Bangladesh’s bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner with ASEAN, paving the way for eventual full membership. He further emphasized Bangladesh’s request for ASEAN's backing at the upcoming 2025 International Conference on the Rohingya Crisis, in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 79/182.
Professor Yunus also called on Malaysia to increase its investment in Bangladesh and explore opportunities for relocating factories to leverage Bangladesh's growing workforce. "I hope that during your tenure, the relationship between our two nations will strengthen on both economic and business fronts," he said.
The Chief Adviser highlighted that Bangladesh is eager to finalize a convenient date with Malaysia to attend the 4th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) in Kuala Lumpur and expressed readiness to host the 5th Joint Commission meeting in Dhaka, ideally by mid-2025.
Senior Secretary for SDG Affairs, Lamiya Morshed, was also present at the meeting.