Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said on Sunday that the government wants to ensure workers receive proper training before going overseas so they can enter the labor market as a skilled workforce.
He made the remarks while addressing a meeting with members of the Bangladeshi expatriate community at the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tarique Rahman said exporting trained and competent workers would add value to the economy and create better employment opportunities for Bangladeshis abroad.
At the beginning of his speech, the prime minister said he wanted to share his thoughts with expatriate Bangladeshis.
Recalling his last visit to Malaysia in 2014, he said he had been impressed by the country's cleanliness on the way from the airport to the city.
"Our expatriate brothers also play an important role in maintaining this cleanliness. If we can uphold discipline and cleanliness abroad, we can certainly do the same in our own country," he said.
The prime minister said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim congratulated him by phone after his election victory and invited him to visit Malaysia.
A bilateral meeting between the two leaders is scheduled for Monday.
He said reopening the Malaysian labor market for Bangladeshi workers will be one of the key issues on the agenda.
"Nearly 2,000 Bangladeshi workers are currently stranded here due to various complications. We will discuss ways to resolve their problems and facilitate their return home," he said.
Tarique Rahman said Malaysia has a large labor market, especially in information technology and technology-driven sectors where skilled workers are in demand.
"We want more skilled workers from Bangladesh to secure employment opportunities in Malaysia. This issue will be raised with due importance," he said.
He also said workers seeking overseas jobs after the labor market reopens should be properly trained and equipped with the necessary skills.
"Appropriate training arrangements will be made for workers heading to Malaysia and other countries. This will reduce the risk of facing difficulties abroad and help enhance Bangladesh's reputation through their professional competence," he added.
Earlier on Sunday at 8:45pm local time, the prime minister arrived in Kuala Lumpur on a 2-day official visit at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He was accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman.
Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, he received a red-carpet reception and a guard of honor. The national anthems of both countries were played during the ceremony.
At the airport's VVIP terminal, he was welcomed by Malaysia's Religious Affairs Minister Mohd Na'im Mokhtar and his spouse. Bangladesh High Commissioner Monjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, Deputy High Commissioner Sahanara Monika and other senior officials were also present.
The prime minister was later escorted to the Shangri-La Hotel in a special motorcade. The nearly 50-minute route from the airport to the hotel was decorated with the national flags of Bangladesh and Malaysia.
The visit marks Tarique Rahman's first state visit since assuming office as prime minister on February 17 following his party's landslide victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
On Monday, a one-on-one meeting between the two prime ministers is scheduled to take place at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya, followed by high-level delegation talks. The two leaders are also expected to address a joint press conference after the meetings.
During the visit, Bangladesh and Malaysia are expected to sign 2 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing cooperation in the tourism and cultural sectors.
