Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's Prime Minister, is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on October 6, 2024, for discussions primarily centered on labour matters. This visit marks a significant diplomatic event, being the first high-level foreign governmental visit since the interim administration, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, assumed office in August 2024.
The talks between Anwar and Yunus are expected to cover a wide range of topics, including economic partnerships, political relations, trade and investment opportunities, educational exchanges, technological cooperation, infrastructure development, and defense collaboration. However, the primary focus will be on labour migration, a crucial issue for both nations.
Bangladesh, the world's eighth most populous country, serves as a major source of labour for Malaysia, particularly in construction, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors. With over a million Bangladeshi workers currently employed in Malaysia, the discussions aim to address the challenges faced by these migrant workers, such as wage issues, working conditions, and the regulation of undocumented labour.
The visit comes at a time when both countries are seeking to strengthen their cooperation in various fields. Malaysia, with the third-largest economy in Southeast Asia, offers significant opportunities for Bangladeshi workers. Conversely, Bangladesh's rapidly growing economy and progress in poverty reduction make it an attractive partner for Malaysia.
"We call on the leaders of Bangladesh and Malaysia to dismantle the syndicate of recruiting agencies responsible for providing most migrant workers in recent years."
The Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) has raised concerns about the current recruitment system. Since August 2022, approximately 450,000 Bangladeshi workers have migrated to Malaysia under a syndicate of 101 recruiting agencies from both countries, prompting questions about the transparency and fairness of the process.
This visit also highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of both nations. While Malaysia's official language is Malay and it boasts a multi-ethnic population including Malays, Chinese, and Indians, Bangladesh's official language is Bengali. Despite these differences, both countries share commonalities as members of international organizations, with Malaysia being a founding member of ASEAN and Bangladesh part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
As the talks unfold, both nations will likely explore ways to leverage their strengths. Malaysia's growing technology sector and significant palm oil industry could offer insights for Bangladesh's development. Similarly, Bangladesh's success in the ready-made garment industry and its unique ecological assets, such as the Sundarbans mangrove forest, could present opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
The outcome of these discussions could have far-reaching implications for the millions of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia and the economic relationship between these two dynamic Asian nations.