The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said that Ministry for Home and Immigration Affairs of Malaysia welcomed Bangladesh's workers in Malaysia.

Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar said this during a meeting with Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury who is also in charge of the Ministry of Overseas Employment and Expatriates Welfare yesterday in Kuala Lumpur where the Foreign Adviser went to attend the D-8 Conference.

"This is very different from the picture same people were presenting earlier this year that this market is shrinking. Actually it is growing at a pace so rapid that it is becoming somewhat of a problem. Malaysia is about to initiate a series of development projects and if we can develop the requisite skills there are vast potentials for our labour in this country," Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said, speaking to the Media afterwards.

Foreign Adviser said," Of course, there are some problems and many of our workers have been subject to harassment by many quarters. I have discussed this with Malaysian Ministers and we are resolved to address these issues together to settle."

He further said our goal is not just expanded markets. We are seeking to improve our skills and our emphasising welfare aspects. Our policy thrust is being directed to those ends.

Foreign Adviser had earlier met the Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim and discussed this, among other topics. He had also met with leaders of the Bangladesh community in Malaysia and visited a shelter house for distressed labour organised by the Bangladesh High Commission.

Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said " I have instructed the High Commission to do all that is possible to resolve the problems of the workers in the shelter. We have discussed same ways and means as to how to go about it."

There are over 445,000 Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia and the number is increasing everyday at present. By the end of the year it is likely that the number of workers may exceed 500,000.