7,964 stranded aspirant migrants to be sent to Malaysia in first phase: MoFA
About 18,000 Bangladeshi workers could not go to Malaysia by 31 May 2024, the deadline set by the Malaysian government
Highlights
A joint technical group was formed later to take the stranded Bangladeshis to Malaysia in phases
Bangladesh verified the list of more than 17,000 workers with Malaysian authorities
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The latest development comes following protests by a group of stranded migrant aspirants on 22 January
The process of sending workers to Malaysia is expected to begin by March-April
The interim government has selected a total of 7,964 aspirant migrants, out of the total 18,000 who were unable to secure flights last year, for sending them to Malaysia in the first phase.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Md Rafiqul Alam disclosed the information in a weekly press briefing of the ministry today (27 January).
He said on 5 December last year, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md Shameem Ahsan met with the country's Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
During their meeting, they discussed the issue of about 18,000 Bangladeshi workers who could not go to Malaysia by 31 May 2024, the deadline set by the Malaysian government.
Later, a joint technical group was formed consisting of representatives from the country's immigration and the Bangladesh High Commission to take the stranded Bangladeshis to Malaysia in phases.
"After the formation of the technical group, two meetings were held on 31 December and 14 January. In the meeting, the Bangladesh side verified the list of more than 17,000 workers with Malaysian authorities and initially informed them about a list of 7,964 workers," he added.
The development comes following a protest by a group of stranded migrant aspirants on 22 January.
In the face of the protest, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Ruhul Amin on that day announced that the process of sending stranded Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia is expected to begin by March-April.
"Our embassy in Kuala Lumpur is in contact with Malaysian authorities," he told reporters that day.
According to the Expatriates' Welfare Ministry, around 18,000 workers missed the May deadline last year due to agencies failing to provide tickets.
"Approximately 2,500 workers filed complaints and have been compensated by the agencies," said Ali Haider Chowdhury, former secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA).
