Reassuring decent working conditions, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that his government will give immediate attention to the fresh entry of 18,000 Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia in the first phase, provided all conditions are met.
“We have discussed the entire system and have ensured that very transparent procedures are in place. We need workers, but they cannot be treated as modern slaves, regardless of whether they come from Bangladesh or other countries. I have said this publicly before and I am reiterating it now,” he said, responding to a question from UNB during a joint press conference with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
However, the Malaysian prime minister also reminded Bangladesh to be vigilant and not to defend criminal actions by anyone—whether they are Malaysians or foreign nationals living in Malaysia.
Chief Adviser Prof Yunus expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian prime minister on behalf of the Bangladeshi people for addressing the worker issue.
An estimated 800,000 Bangladeshis currently live and work in Malaysia, with approximately 450,000 of them having migrated between August 2022 and May of this year.
Prof Yunus and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held a brief one-on-one meeting at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport before their bilateral talks at Hotel InterContinental.
Prof Yunus expressed his pleasure in welcoming his old friend to Dhaka, stating that they have known each other for over four decades. Yunus briefly discussed the student-led revolution, the sacrifices made by students and citizens, and the violence committed by the previous government.
The chief adviser also spoke about his long-standing relationship with Malaysian universities and leaders.
The two leaders shared a car on their way to the bilateral meeting, reflecting their close friendship.
During the meeting, they discussed three key areas—politics, trade, and investment. Other topics of mutual interest included economic cooperation, education, technology and human resource development, manpower export, higher education partnerships, communication, infrastructure development, and defense cooperation.
Malaysia, which will chair Asean starting in January 2025, also touched on the Rohingya issue. The possibility of Bangladesh becoming a "Sectoral Dialogue Partner" in Asean for regional cooperation was also raised.
"This visit is very important in terms of bilateral relations, and it is expected to deepen the ties and friendship between Bangladesh and Malaysia," said Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain.
The Malaysian prime minister emphasized the importance of a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ and the need to address issues faced by Malaysian companies in Bangladesh and Bangladeshi companies in Malaysia promptly.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to tackling corruption, ensuring good governance, and maintaining sound economic fundamentals.
He expressed a desire to hold the next joint commission meeting as soon as possible.
Upon his arrival, the Malaysian prime minister was given a red carpet reception. He landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 2pm, leading a 58-member delegation. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus received him with a gun salute and guard of honor.
After nearly a decade, a Malaysian prime minister is visiting Bangladesh, and this marks the first official visit by a foreign head of government since the interim government was formed on August 8.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was taken directly to Hotel InterContinental from the airport, where he spent a few hours. Prof Yunus hosted a high tea in his honor.
The Malaysian prime minister also met President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban, where he signed the visitor's book, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Malaysia is the 8th largest investor in Bangladesh, with Malaysian companies, including those owned by sovereign funds, having invested more than $5 billion in the country. They are now looking to invest further, particularly in education.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was scheduled to leave Dhaka at 6:25pm.