Bangladesh has strongly raised the issue of undocumented or irregular Bangladeshi migrants with Malaysia’s top leadership, aiming for a long-term solution to migration challenges, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said on Tuesday night.
“We are coming here frequently. We are having deep and sincere discussions. They (Malaysia) have responded well and remain serious about migration welfare,” Alam told reporters during a briefing at a Kuala Lumpur hotel.
Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, First Secretary (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission Sufi Abdullahhil Maruf, Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad, and Assistant Press Secretary Suchismita Tithi were also present.
Acknowledging persistent structural challenges in migration management, Alam said steps were being taken to address all related issues, reiterating Bangladesh’s zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking.
Describing the talks between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as “very successful and fruitful,” he expressed optimism that bilateral ties would reach new heights. Negotiations for a Bangladesh-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are expected to begin soon.
On the Rohingya crisis, Alam said Malaysia would remain engaged with Bangladesh in international forums to help find a resolution.
Earlier, during a joint press conference following official talks, the signing of five MoUs, and the exchange of three notes, Prof Yunus urged Malaysia to keep its doors open for Bangladeshi workers.
“We want to thank Malaysia for hosting so many of our people, and we hope this door will remain open and become even wider so that we can send more young people to work in Malaysia and learn valuable skills,” Yunus said.
He noted that many workers return home after gaining experience in Malaysia, launching businesses, and creating economic opportunities. Remittances from these workers, he added, sustain families, fund education, and improve living standards.
“It’s not simply a matter of workers coming from outside to work here. They are happy to work here, and their contributions benefit both countries,” the Chief Adviser said.
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