The government has officially started sending Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia who could not travel earlier despite completing all procedures.
The program targets workers who had completed all steps by May 31, 2024, but were unable to depart due to various issues.
The first batch of 60 workers left Dhaka for Malaysia under the government’s initiative through Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL).
Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, was present at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to see off the workers.
He expressed gratitude to the Malaysian government and the efforts of the ministry’s Chief Adviser in making the departures possible.
“After a long wait, dreams are finally coming true,” he said.
He mentioned the repatriation of 188 detainees from the United Arab Emirates, who had been held for participating in movements supporting the July uprising, and said arrangements are being made for their rehabilitation upon returning to Bangladesh.
Highlighting various initiatives taken by the current government for the welfare of expatriates, he emphasized that the government is fully committed to the well-being of overseas workers.
At the event, chaired by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Dr. Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Malaysia-going worker Roni Mia, speaking on behalf of the returning workers, expressed deep gratitude for the Chief Adviser’s dedicated initiative and the continuous efforts of the Ministry’s advisers in fulfilling their long-cherished dreams of working abroad.
It is to be noted that on October 4, 2024, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, during his visit to Bangladesh, received a request from Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to facilitate the departure of workers who had been unable to travel to Malaysia.
Subsequently, from May 13–16, 2025, Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul and the Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, Lutfey Siddiqui, visited Malaysia to follow up on the initiative.
As part of this process, during the 3rd Bangladesh–Malaysia Joint Working Group meeting held on May 21–22, 2025, BOESL was assigned the responsibility of deploying a total of 7,873 workers, out of 17,777, who had completed all procedures by May 31, 2024, but were unable to travel to Malaysia.
The deployment was decided for workers in two sectors: construction and tourism.
On August 7, a formal agreement was signed with Malaysia’s Construction Labour Exchange Centre Berhad (CLAB) to facilitate the worker deployment.
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In the first phase, the Malaysian employer, CLAB, requested 500 workers, of whom 255 have already obtained visas and completed all preparations for departure.
The event was hosted by Md. Saiful Islam, Managing Director of Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL).
Other distinguished guests included the Director General of BMET, Managing Director of the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board, Managing Director of Probashi Kallyan Bank, Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and the Executive Director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.