Yunus urges Malaysia to issue multiple-entry visas for Bangladeshi workers

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today urged Malaysia to issue multiple-entry visas for Bangladeshi workers employed in the country, allowing them to return home and re-enter as needed.

The chief adviser raised the issue during a meeting with Mohd Shuhada Othman, the Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, at the state guest house Jamuna.

He also requested the high commissioner to facilitate the entry of 18,000 Bangladeshi workers who missed the deadline to join their jobs in Malaysia last May.

In response, the high commissioner said a joint technical committee comprising officials from both countries met in Kuala Lumpur on December 31 to discuss the matter, and another meeting is scheduled for today.

Recalling his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Dhaka last October, the chief adviser expressed hope that Malaysia would expedite the process to enable the next batch of Bangladeshi workers to migrate for employment.

Professor Yunus congratulated Malaysia on assuming the ASEAN chairmanship from January 1, 2025, and sought its support for Bangladesh’s bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, with the eventual goal of achieving full membership.

He also urged Malaysia’s support in the upcoming International Conference on the Rohingya Crisis, which will be convened by the UN in 2025 in line with UNGA Resolution 79/182.

The chief adviser encouraged the high commissioner, who was appointed in December 2024, to attract more Malaysian investment to Bangladesh and to explore the relocation of Malaysian factories to take advantage of Bangladesh’s young workforce.

“I hope that during your tenure in Bangladesh, the relationship between our two countries will reach a new level of closeness, especially in economic and business sectors,” Yunus said.

He further said that Bangladesh looks forward to a convenient date from Malaysia to attend the 4th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) in Kuala Lumpur. Bangladesh is also ready to host the Foreign Minister-level 5th Joint Commission meeting in Dhaka, preferably by mid-2025.

Senior Secretary for SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed was also present during the meeting.