Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Youssef Essa Al Duhailan on Sunday expressed eagerness to recruit more workers, especially skilled and trained workforce, to support its ambitious initiatives like ‘Green Saudi Initiative’ and mega projects under the Kingdom Vision 2030. The Ambassador recalled the invaluable contributions of Bangladeshi expatriate workers to the Saudi economy and society, praising them as diligent and hardworking. During a meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi envoy said the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka is issuing a good number of visas every day, which is adding up to the already 3 million workforces employed in Saudi Arabia. Both the Foreign Secretary and the Ambassador underscored the necessity of maintaining continuous engagement between their governments, including political consultations and the high-level Joint Economic Commission (JEC) as well as the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) on Manpower between the two countries. During the meeting, the Ambassador briefed the Foreign Secretary on some pending Saudi initiatives, including establishment of Iconic Mosques and an Arabic Language Institute in Dhaka and sought his cooperation in expediting them. The Saudi envoy also apprised him on the current Saudi investment initiatives in the port logistics and renewable and power sectors, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Secretary Jashim assured the Ambassador of his commitment to addressing any outstanding issues and encouraged him to explore further potential for increasing investment from KSA. He pledged full support to facilitate the removal of any obstacles hindering such investments. The Foreign Secretary appreciated Saudi Arabia’s role in deescalating regional tensions and fostering stability. Commending its leadership role to the Islamic Ummah, he reaffirmed Bangladesh's unwavering support to Saudi Arabia in achieving regional stability. Jashim also expressed Bangladesh’s solidarity with the Palestinian cause and called for urgent action for the realization of a Two-State solution. The Ambassador congratulated the Foreign Secretary on his assumption of responsibilities of the Ministry. The Foreign Secretary thanked him and shared some recent developments taking place in the country in addition to the initiatives and reforms agenda taken up by the Interim Government. The Ambassador recalled Bangladesh's steadfast support for Saudi Arabia in various international fora, including the upcoming 2034 Football World Cup and IORA, and expressed gratitude for the enduring fraternity between the two nations.

Reassuring decent working conditions, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday said his government will give immediate attention to the fresh entry of 18,000 Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia in the first phase subject to all conditions are met. “We have discussed the whole system. And we have gone through very transparent procedures. We need workers but they can’t be treated as modern slaves no matter if they are from Bangladesh or other countries. I said this publicly in the past like now,” he said while responding to a question from UNB during a joint press appearance with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.   During the official talks, the Chief Adviser drew special attention to the Malaysian dignitary on the 18000 Bangladesh workers who could not fly within the deadline. The Malaysian Prime Minister assured that his government will give major consideration to the applications of these Bangladeshi workers. Prof Yunus urged the Malaysian Government to issue multiple visas for the Bangladeshi workers and increase the professional and workers in-take to Malaysia. The Malaysian Prime Minister, however, reminded Bangladesh to remain careful and distinguish things urging not to defend criminal actions by anyone – either Malaysians or foreigners in Malaysia. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian Prime Minister on behalf of all the people in the country for making this announcement on the worker issue. An estimated 800,000 Bangladeshis now live and work in Malaysia. Of them, about 450,000 migrated between August 2022 and May this year. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus and the Malaysian Prime Minister had a brief one-on-one meeting at the Hazrat Shahjalal Airport before their bilateral talks at Hotel InterContinental. Prof Yunus said he was ‘very happy’ to welcome his old friend in Dhaka as they have known each other for over four decades. Yunus spoke briefly on the student-led revolution, the sacrifice the students and people made and the carnage committed by the previous government. The chief adviser also spoke about his long association with Malaysian universities and its leaders. They boarded the same car to travel to the bilateral venue—in an expression of their close friendship. Very happy to welcome my old friend: Prof Yunus on receiving Malaysian PM During the bilateral meeting, they discussed three core areas – political, trade and investment. The issues of mutual interest, including economic, political, trade and investment, education, technology and human resource development, manpower export, higher education cooperation, communications, infrastructure development, and defense cooperation were also highlighted. Malaysia is going to be the next chair of Asean from January 2025, and the Rohingya issue was also discussed. In addition, the issue of Bangladesh to become a ‘Sectoral Dialogue Partner’ in Asean in terms of regional cooperation was specially raised. "This visit is very important in terms of bilateral relations and this visit is expected to be considered as an expression of deepening bilateral relations and enduring friendship between Bangladesh and Malaysia,” said Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain. The Malaysian Prime Minister laid emphasis on ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ and addressing the issues of Malaysian companies in Bangladesh and Bangladeshi companies in Malaysia in a faster manner. He said they do not compromise with corruption, governance and economic fundamentals. The Malaysian PM also said the joint commission meeting can be held as soon as possible. He was accorded a red carpet reception on his arrival here on a very short official trip to take the relations between the two countries to a new height. The Malaysian prime minister, who is leading a 58-member delegation, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 2pm. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus received him amid a gun salute and guard of honour. After almost a decade, a Malaysian prime minister is visiting Bangladesh, and this official visit is the first by any head of government to Bangladesh since the formation of the interim government on August 8. He was directly taken to Hotel InterContinental from the airport where he spent a couple of hours. Prof Yunus also hosted high tea in honour of the Malaysian prime minister. The Malaysian PM also met President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB. He signed the visitor's book there. Malaysia is the 8th largest investor in Bangladesh. Malaysian companies, including several owned by its sovereign funds, have invested more than $5 billion in Bangladesh and are now willing to invest more, including in education. The Malaysian prime minister left Dhaka on Friday evening wrapping up his brief visit. 

Malaysia on Tuesday resumed recruitment of manpower from Bangladesh after a long pause of four years as the first batch of Bangladeshi workers reached Kuala Lumpur. A flight of Air Asia carrying 53 Bangladeshi workers landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 5:22am, said the High Commission of Bangladesh in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. Bangladesh High Commissioner Md Golam Sarwar welcomed them at the airport and expressed satisfaction over the resumption of workers recruitment. Bangladesh expects that around five lakh workers will get employment opportunities in Malaysia within the next three years. The High Commission of Bangladesh said the remittance inflows from Malaysia will exceed USD 3 billion with the recruitment of new five lakh workers. Read: Bangladesh, Malaysia reaffirm commitment for further strengthening ties The workers were employed in a Malaysian food processing industry Jimat Jaya. According to the new salary scale of the Malaysian government, they will get a salary of at least Tk 37,000 per month. Besides, they will be provided with overtime, free accommodation, health insurance, work accident insurance and other benefits as applicable under Malaysian law. High Commissioner Golam Sarwar expressed his gratitude to all the Bangladeshi and Malaysian colleagues for the resumption of recruitment of Bangladeshi workers. Minister of Labor Wing of High Commission Najmus Sadat Salim along with officials of Human Resources Observatory of Malaysia and journalists from both countries were present at the airport. In 2018, the then Malaysian government shut the door of his country’s labour market to workers from Bangladesh for alleged irregularities by hiring agencies in both countries. At the centre of the latest dispute is that the Malaysian government wants the recruitment to be done by a selected group of 25 Bangladeshi agencies. Dhaka rejects the idea as it will leave out many mostly smaller agencies (over 1,500) out of the process and business.

Bangladesh and Malaysia have discussed the issues of mutual interest including recruitment of Bangladeshi workers and reaffirmed their commitment for further strengthening the excellent relations between the two brotherly countries in the days ahead. Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob expressed his keenness to visit Bangladesh in a mutually convenient date in a near future. Referring to the invitation from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Malaysian leader, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen requested him to visit Bangladesh in this year of golden jubilee of bilateral relations.

The government of Bahrain has agreed to allow 161 stranded Bangladeshi workers back to Bahrain under a special arrangement after six months of Bangladesh’s request. Bangladesh Embassy in Manama has requested the Bangladeshis, who remain out of the list, not to get frustrated but try to convince their owners or sponsors in Bahrain for their re-entry. Also read: Malaysia to start taking workers from Bangladesh this month: Minister “It’s unfortunate but true that most of the sponsors are not willing to bring them (Bangladeshi workers) back to Bahrain (due to Covid-related economic problem),” said Bangladesh Ambassador to Bahrain Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam in a Facebook live recently, noting that number that remains out of the approved list is over 800. He said the embassy will inform all if the Bahrain government allows more Bangladeshis to return to Bahrain. The ambassador said no decision has been made yet regarding opening of new visas. “We are working on that.” It was announced that the sponsors who are trying to bring their stranded 161 Bangladeshi workers back to Bahrain can follow the prescribed procedure to avoid facing the difficulties in the e-visa platform. Also read: Qatar keen to recruit workers from Bangladesh during FIFA World Cup The sponsors who have business accounts with the immigration can directly use the e-visa platform, said the embassy. The sponsors who do not have a business account with the immigration can apply for a visit visa in person with the necessary documents on behalf of their workers.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Serbia Md Shameem Ahsan discussed the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers with Serbian Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Minister Dr Darija Kisic Tepavcevic during a recent meeting at her office in Belgrade. The minister told the ambassador that the Serbian companies are highly interested in hiring skilled and semi-skilled workers from Bangladesh through legal channels. Acknowledging the historic bonds between Dhaka and Belgrade and the huge potential to strengthen bilateral ties – especially in labour and employment – the ambassador and the minister discussed the possible signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Bangladesh has sought Malaysian support to finalise a protocol to amend the existing MoU for recruitment of new Bangladeshi workers for the Malaysian market.

Five Bangladeshi workers have been killed and five others injured in a road accident in Duqm of Oman.

Sanal Kumar, the chairman of Jordan’s largest readymade garment factory, met Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad on Thursday.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Jordan Nahida Sobhan visited the largest garments factory in Jordan and assured the Bangladeshi workers of Classic Fashion Apparels that the Embassy would always stand by them to ensure their rights and welfare.