Malaysia on Monday assured that it would look after the Bangladeshi workers so that they don’t face any adverse situation there. The assurance came from visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Bin Razak during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The two Prime Ministers led their respective country’s delegation in the meeting. “Our government will look after the Bangladeshi workers so that they do not have to face any hassle in Malaysia,” the Malaysian Prime Minister said at the bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart. In this regard, he stressed government to government dialogue for the welfare of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia. Najib Bin Razak also said that Malaysia needs more workers and Bangladesh could be a good source for that. Calling the Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur ties as very good, he said that in future, the ties will strengthen further. The Malaysian PM recalled the historic visit of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Malaysia. Talking about more investment in various sectors of Bangladesh, he said the Malaysian businessmen are very keen to invest in Bangladesh. “They are looking potential sectors to invest in Bangladesh.” Najib Bin Razak wished success of Bangladesh Prime Minster in the upcoming general election and the continuation of the democratic process in the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged Malaysia to invest more in Bangladesh in various sectors including power sector for mutual benefit of the two peoples. Mentioning that Bangladesh has one of the most investment-friendly policies in South Asia, she welcomed Malaysian investment in attractive sectors like power, telecommunications, urea fertilizer plants, infrastructure development and cement production. Hasina said “I’m happy that our two governments are negotiating to construct a 1320 MW coal-based power plant in Cox’s Bazar. I welcome more investment from Malaysia for this sector.” She sought more Malaysian engagements for building of bridges and highways on build, own, operate and transfer basis. Prime Minister’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed the reporters after the meeting. The Prime Minister also urged the Malaysian government to recruit more workers from Bangladesh. “We’ve developed a pool of semi-skilled and skilled workforce ready to work in any area of the economy. I would request you to kindly consider them when recruiting for the development activities (in Malaysia),” she said. Talking about the Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, Hasina said that these Bangladeshi workers are contributing to the socioeconomic transformation of both the countries. She thanked the Malaysian government for regularising more than half of them under the 6-P Programme and for resuming the employment for Bangladesh nationals. She also urged the Malayasian government to remove non-tariff barriers in importing goods from Bangladesh by Malaysian businessmen. The Prime Minister said removal of such non-tariff barriers would enhance market for quality Bangladeshi products like RMG, jute goods, leather and leather goods, footwear and ceramic products in Malaysia. She said the friendship between the two brotherly countries continued to grow stronger by the day with increasing cooperation in many spheres of socio-economic relations of the two peoples. Mentioning Bangladesh and Malaysia as liberal Muslim countries with common religious and cultural ethos, Hasina said both the countries are characterized by religious and social tolerance and cultural cohesion. She said Bangladesh strongly believes in regional cooperation and is playing an important role in promoting economic integration among SAARC, D-8 and BIMSTEC member states. “Bangladesh could be a gateway of cooperation between SAARC and ASEAN countries.” The Bangladesh side in the talks included Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary Shaikh M Wahid Uz Zaman, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque, PMO Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad. Earlier, the two prime ministers had a tete-a-tete at the Prime Minister’s Office. – UNB
