DHAKA: Norlin Othman, Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, on Monday said hartal is a democratic right as Bangladesh is a democratic country.

But it is also a barrier to the investment of the country, she said.

The high commissioner made the observation in response to a query of journalists at a press conference in city’s National Press Club.

Indicating the insufficiency of investment opportunity, Norlin said there are various problems in investment here such as infrastructure, power and gas supply, communications etc. Hartal is also one of them, she observed.

Regarding bilateral business relation between Bangladesh and Malaysia, she said they proposed Bangladesh to make Free Trade Agreement (FTA). But there was no response from the government.

She hoped that the agreement may be signed after the visit of commerce minister to Malaysia.

Some 2,923 Bangladeshis are doing business in Malaysia taking second home opportunity, she added.

The Malaysian government is committed to take workers through G2G process to avoid fraud from any Malaysian company.

The high commissioner said they take workers more 16 countries. She also promised to give amnesty facility to legalize the illegal workers. 

Norlin also sought help of other countries to investigate about Malaysian airlines accident.

BDST: 1526 HRS, SEP 22, 2014