MALAYSIA: Thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates in Malaysia have been waiting eagerly for the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s three-day visit to the country believing that the tour would bring solutions to many of their problems.
Leaders of Bangladeshi community told the banglanews correspondent that they will highlight their problems in the meeting scheduled to be held at Hotel Grand Hyatt at 8:00pm.
The premier left Bangladesh for Kuala Lumpur on a three-day official visit in a bid to strengthen bilateral relationship in trade and investment and expediting export of Bangladeshi manpower.
Previously, each visit of Hasina in 2010 and 1996 brought good news to the expatriates.
Following her visit in 2010, Malaysian authorities provided a rare opportunity to illegal Bangladeshi expatriates to become legal by keeping their fingerprint data using biometric system.
In 1996, the illegal expatriates were also given an opportunity to stay in Malaysia legally after Hasina’s visit to the country.
At present, Bangladesh is exporting workers to Malaysia through a “government-to-government” (G2G) agreement. But the agreement is not enjoying the light of success as expected due to different complexities.
Presently, around 14 lakhs Bangladeshi workers have been waiting in the pipeline in accordance with the demand of Malaysian labor market. Expatriates hope this stoppage will soon come to an end thorough the premier’s visit.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has recently announced it will import manpower for Sarawak province and in all the sectors of the country from Bangladesh. Bangladesh government has already taken steps to export a total of 12,000 workers in this regard.
During Hasina’s visit, a deal may be signed to enable speedy manpower export and solve the existing impasse in addition to the different initiatives on trade, investment, and cultural exchange between two countries.
Will the employed workers’ problems be solved?
The main problem of Bangladeshi workers is the uncertainty of the renewal of ‘6P’ visa for the fourth year. Bangladesh High Commission, though, said the ‘6P’ visa was issued for three years and workers renewed their visas annually for the last three years.
Besides, thousands of Bangladeshi workers are living in Malaysia illegally. They face hardships to become legal due to Malaysian government’s stern stance on illegal immigration. Bangladeshi expatriates, however, hope for some good news during this tour.
Issue of human trafficking
Nowadays, many are sailing the deep seas to enter Malaysia illegally. Recently, a Malaysia-bound engine boat, carrying 625 Bangladeshis, was rescued in the sea. A day later, Malaysia police also seized another trawler, carrying 21 people, in their maritime boundary.
The recent situations raised the authorities’ concern. Bangladesh government is likely to play tough role against human trafficking.
In reality, the Bangladeshi workers are facing one problem after another. Uncertainty about the 6P visa holders is increasing day by day as well as illegal migrants also passing days in fear.
Legal migrants are apparently facing troubles for the illegal migrants. Everyone expects actions against the manpower recruiting agents - who are mainly liable for the surge of illegal migration to Malaysia - from both countries to see an end of the affair.
In spite of everything, all has kept eyes on Hasina’s latest visit and expecting some good news like previous times. She brought good news to Bangladeshi expatriates living in Malaysia during all of her previous visits.
** PM vows to highest sacrifice
BDST: 1228 HRS, DEC 02, 2014
