Shahriar Requests Malaysia to Take Back Stranded Bangladeshi Workers

Ms Hazanah Md Hasim, the newly appointed Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, called on Md Shahriar Alam, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, to his office on Thursday.

The Minister of State congratulated the High Commissioner on her appointment in Dhaka and assured her during her assignment in Dhaka of complete cooperation, reports media.

Md Shahriar Alam said Malaysia is Bangladesh's trusted friend and partner with which, since independence, Bangladesh has enjoyed close bilateral relations.

In Malaysia, a large number of Bangladeshi workers and professionals are living and contributing enormously to each of our economies.

State Minister noted that Malaysia is an advanced economy and a development hub in the Asia Pacific region and doing remarkably well amidst of Covid-19 pandemic.

He added that Bangladesh and Malaysia have enormous potential to expand and diversify collaborations in different sectors, including science, technology, healthcare, education, trade, tourism, oil, etc.

The State Minister underscored the need for new initiatives, referring to the recent trend in bilateral trade between the two countries.

He also suggested that Malaysia might consider widening its tariff concession for greater market access of Bangladeshi products.

Referring to the recalibration program for regularization and voluntary repatriation of migrant workers, the State Minister expressed gratitude for standing beside Bangladeshi expatriates during the current Covid-19 pandemic. 

He also asked the Malaysian government to do what it wanted to get the stranded Bangladeshi workers back to their old and new humanitarian workplace in Malaysia.

He called for extending all kinds of cooperation to the Ministry of Welfare and Overseas Jobs of Expatriates and for a solution to the current migrant crisis.

The High Commissioner assured to take the return of the workers and students issue with her capital and hoped that these issues would be dissolved soon.

The Minister of State thanked Malaysia for its strong political support, as well as for its humanitarian support for Rohingya, and sought the pro-active position of ASEAN and Malaysia on the repatriation issue.

He appreciated the establishment and continuity of the Rohingya service at the Field Hospital at Cox's Bazar.