Bangladesh and Malaysia held high-level discussions yesterday, November 3, focusing on joint inspections and monitoring of the migration system to ensure fair and transparent recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for the Malaysian labour market.
The discussions took place during a meeting between Acting Foreign Minister Humaiun Kobir and Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in St John's, Antigua and Barbuda, according to a Foreign Ministry press release.
Beyond expatriate worker issues, the two ministers reviewed broader bilateral cooperation, placing special emphasis on expanding trade and investment and working toward the early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement between the two nations.
Recalling Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's state visit to Malaysia in June, both officials expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations. The Malaysian foreign minister expressed hope that Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim would visit Dhaka at an early date.
Additionally, the Malaysian side assured support for Bangladesh's aspirations to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and to accede to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement.
Why it matters
Enhanced bilateral cooperation and joint recruitment monitoring directly impact the welfare of Bangladeshi migrant workers and strengthen economic ties with Malaysia.