Don't know MPs, action will be taken against those responsible: Expat state minister

State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Shofiqur Rahman Chowdhury has said punitive actions will be taken against those responsible for the plight of aspirant migrants who were unable to go to Malaysia despite paying substantial sums of money.

A total of 16,970 jobseekers could not go to Malaysia despite having all necessary documents, including clearance cards from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), Shofiqur told a press conference today. 

Some media reports have blamed the syndicate of 100 recruiting agencies and four members of parliament for the plight of overseas fortune seekers. 

When asked what specific actions would be taken, the minister replied that those responsible would be held accountable according to the law. "I don't know the MPs. We have no deal with them," he said. 

A six-member probe committee, led by an additional secretary, has been formed, and it will submit a report within seven working days, he also said. 

He noted that the committee will find out the reasons why the workers could not go to Malaysia even after having work permits and MBET clearance cards, and identify the recruiting agencies that have failed to send workers.  

"If someone complains to the committee about not being able to go to Malaysia, it will determine how to deal with such situations in the future," the state minister told reporters. 

Claiming that there was no negligence on the part of his ministry, he said, "The ministry was not negligent. We are still making efforts." 

"We wrote to the Malaysian government a week ago requesting a one-week extension. We are also in communication with the Malaysian High Commissioner, who will visit the ministry on June 5 for discussions," he added. 

The state minister expressed optimism about opening the closed labor market in Malaysia, saying that the Bangladesh government is working with the Malaysian government to this end. 

However, recruiting agencies have to get approval from the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry before being able to send workers to Malaysia, he said. 

As of 31 May, the ministry approved a total of 5,26,676 people to go to Malaysia, of whom 4,93,642 got clearance from the BMET.

So far, 4,76,672 people have been able to go to Malaysia, and 16,970 could not go, according to official figures. 

At that time, Ruhul Amin, secretary of the ministry, said approval was given only to those who had tickets after 24 May.