Expatriate minister, PM's adviser to visit Malaysia this month

Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury and Prime Minister's Advisor on Expatriate Welfare Mahdi Amin are scheduled to visit Malaysia this month to push for the reopening of the country’s labour market, which has been closed for nearly two years.

The trip is expected to take place on April 8, according to ministry sources.

Malaysia suspended labour recruitment from Bangladesh and several other countries on June 1, 2024, leaving about 18,000 workers unable to travel.

Nearly Tk 800 crore deposited by these workers remains in limbo, with many reporting they have yet to receive full refunds despite government and recruiting agency claims.

State-run BOESL has been working to redeploy stranded workers, targeting 7,873 employees for Malaysia’s construction sector. As per the initiatives, between November 16, 2025, and March 29, 2026, 881 workers received visas and BMET clearance.

The labor market has long been plagued by syndicates, corruption, and irregularities. In the past 16 years, it has been suspended three times, with influential groups accused of profiting from worker placement.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission, syndicates have illegally collected and siphoned off over Tk 1,128 crore.

Despite repeated high-level discussions, progress has been limited. Malaysia has imposed ten conditions for reopening the market, of which Bangladesh has requested the removal of three, with no response yet.

During the upcoming visit, the Bangladeshi delegation will meet Malaysia’s Home and Human Resources Ministers and engage in key discussions to facilitate labour recruitment.

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi manpower exporters recently held a human chain demanding a corruption-free labor market, equal opportunities for all legitimate recruiting agencies, and an end to syndicate influence.

Ministry officials expressed hope that the visit will accelerate efforts to reopen the Malaysian labor market.