Malaysia
Commerce Minister urges Malaysia to set up industries in Bangladesh
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Thursday urged Malaysia to invest in Bangladesh taking advantage of huge manpower at an affordable cost.
He also emphasized signing of FTA between two countries for enhancing trade as products of both countries have been meeting demands of consumers.
The commerce minister came up with remarks during a meeting with a 14-member delegation led by Malaysian Minister for Plantation, Industry and Commodities Datuk Hajah Zuraida Binti Kamarunddin at his secretariat office.
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Bangladesh is exporting various products including readymade garments, jute products, plastics, light machinery and leather goods to Malaysia.
Munshi said Bangladesh exported goods worth USD $ 306.57 million to Malaysia in the fiscal year 2020-2021, while imported goods worth $1576.89 million. Bangladesh has a huge demand of various Malaysian products including palm oil, furniture, chocolate and fruits.
Malaysia will get huge profit if it sets up factories of these products in Bangladesh, he said.
Visiting Malaysian Minister Datuk Hajah Zuraida said Bangladesh is a friend of Malaysia and an important business partner.
“Ongoing trade and economic relations between the two countries have the potential to grow. In particular, there is a demand for Malaysian furniture, rubber products, chocolate and sugary food products in Bangladesh,” she said.
Both countries can work to increase trade and boost economic cooperation and Malaysia is keen to enhance trade with Bangladesh, Datuk Hajah Zuraida said.
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Additional commerce secretaries AHM Shafiquzzaman, Nur Md Mahbubul Haque, Malaysian deputy (plantation) secretary Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, deputy under-secretary Jaime Yeoh, palm oil board director Dato Dr. Ahmad Parveez bin Ghulam Kadir, among other, were present in the meeting.
Malaysia will take more manpower from Bangladesh, a visiting minister tells PM
Malaysia is keen to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh particularly for the plantation sector, visiting Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Zuraida Kamaruddin said on Thursday.
The Malaysian minister said this when she paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter's official residence Ganobhaban.
Zuraida Kamaruddin discussed the proposal whether workers can be recruited from Bangladesh through Government-to-Government (G2G) channel for the plantation sector, PM's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher told reporters after the meeting.
With the proposed recruitment system, the visiting minister said they want to make sure basic rights and facilities, including decent accommodation and salary for the workers as well as to make the recruitment process easier, transparent and free of hassle and harassment.
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They are eager to introduce a tracking system to oversee the workers, she said.
Zuraida Kamaruddin said Malaysia thinks that the existing bilateral relations between the two countries will be strengthened further.
The prime minister welcomed the proposal and hoped the bilateral relations with Malaysia would be stronger in the days to come.
The Malaysian minister lauded the PM for her successful Covid-19 pandemic management.
She hailed Sheikh Hasina as symbol of achievement for all the global women as what she said the Bangladesh leader is one of the most influential women leaders in the world.Hasina thanked the Malaysian government for extending Covid vaccination support to Bangladesh and conveyed good wishes to the Malaysian prime minister.
Read: Bangladesh calls for addressing root causes of climate-induced displacementZuraida also conveyed the greetings of the Malaysian Prime Minister to the Bangladesh Premier.
PM's Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin, PM's Principal Secretary Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus and the Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Haznah Md Hashim were present.
Dhaka keen to add more dimensions in its ties with KL
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said they look forward to taking bilateral relations with Malaysia to new heights by adding further depth and dimensions in the days ahead.
"During the last five decades, our multidimensional relationship has flourished on a solid foundation based on shared values, mutual respect and excellent cooperation," he said.
On the auspicious occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh-Malaysia diplomatic relations, the Foreign Minister conveyed heartiest felicitations to the government and the brotherly people of Malaysia.
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Both the countries have "come a long way" to consolidate their bilateral relation since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries after Malaysia recognized Bangladesh on 31 January 1972.
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Recruiting agents oppose 25-agency syndicate for exporting manpower to Malaysia
The general recruiting agents in the country jointly expressed their stand against allowing “a 25-agency syndicate” for exporting manpower to Malaysia.
The agents announced it at a press briefing held at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Monday.
They said it was unfair, unwanted and humiliating for Bangladesh that Malaysian Minister for Human Resources Sarvnan sought a list of 25 agencies and 250 sub agents from expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry.
All recruiting agencies are of equal qualifications and they have acquired license by providing same amount of caution money so they can’t be considered sub agents of 25 chosen ones.
They also questioned on what basis the 25 agencies and sub agent’s qualifications will be measured.
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They said, earlier in 2016, 10 agencies were approved and 210 others as sub agents but in real none other than those 10 agencies could send workers to Malaysia.
Those agencies took two to three times more plane fare from the expat workers sent from Bangladesh to Malaysia, they said.
The agents expressed their concern that those 10 agencies will try to misappropriate approval for these 25 “syndicates” like before from the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Mentioning all the recruiting agents from countries like Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Pakistan can send their workers without any syndicate to Malaysia, they said Bangladesh as a sovereign country should also be allowed the same.
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However the agents appreciated the letter sent by Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed to Malaysian government proposing open recruitment from all the legal agencies of Bangladesh on January 18.
They demanded including the proposal at the upcoming meeting of Bangladesh-Malaysia working committee and its implementation.
Malaysian govt wants to cut out third parties in foreign recruitment
The Malaysian government has advised the employers not to make any payment through intermediaries or third parties for the purpose of speeding up the application process as its Cabinet recently approved the entry of foreign workers for all employment sectors.
"This is to prevent fraud by irresponsible parties," said Malaysian Minister for Human Resources M. Saravanan in a media statement on recruitment and employment of foreign workers.
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The Malaysian Minister also reminded employers who want to employ foreign workers to submit their own applications and based on the actual needs for foreign workers.
Employers who use the services of private employment agencies must also ensure that the agency is registered and has a license certified by the Department of Manpower Peninsular Malaysia under the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981, according to the statement.
The entry of foreign workers for all employment sectors was approved by the Malaysian Cabinet meeting on December 10, last year.
This entry will be opened to all sectors allowed for the employment of foreign workers namely agriculture, manufacturing, services, mining and quarrying, construction and domestic servants.
Previously, approval was given for the entry of 32,000 foreign workers for the plantation sector with special exemptions.
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All these admissions must comply with the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) for the admission of foreign workers which was approved by the COVID-19 Ministerial Quartet Meeting on 14 December 2021, according to the media statement.
This SOP includes four phases namely pre-release, on arrival, post-arrival i.e. quarantine and post-quarantine period.
Accordingly, the Minister will make an announcement in the near future on the date of applications that can be submitted by employers online for the process of hiring foreign workers for each sector of employment allowed from the Source Country.
Tap lowers cash out charge
Mobile financial service (MFS) provider Trust Axiata Pay or "Tap" has lowered the charge for withdrawing money to make transactions more affordable for customers.
The charge will be Tk14.70 in every thousand for any tap general account customers.
Customers can enjoy the new price while cashing out through the app. The Tk14.70 will include all charges including VAT.
Dewan Nazmul Hasan, chief executive officer of tap, said: "Tap is focused on making digital technology available to everyone in the country. We have been able to reach all of the 64 districts from the very beginning."
"And to send a message to the customers on the New Year, we have now reduced the cash out charge," he added.
Tap is a joint venture company of Trust Bank, Bangladesh and Axiata Digital Services Sdn Bhd, Malaysia.
MoU signed with KL to send Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to send Bangladeshi workers to Bangladesh and Malaysia.
Malaysian Human Resources Minister M Saravanan and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed signed the MoU in the city on behalf of their respective sides around 11 am (local time) in Kuala Lumpur.
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With the MoU, an opportunity to establish an ideal structure in the recruitment, employment and repatriation process of workers has been created as well as ensuring the rights and dignity of the workers.
Under the MoU, the recruitment agency will bear all costs of Bangladeshi workers, including the recruitment process, accommodation, employment, and sending workers to Malaysia.
Employers can hire Malaysian recruiting agents at their own cost.
Besides, employers will have to bear the immigration fees, visa fees, medical expenses, insurance expenses and quarantine expenses of the workers.
Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Dr Ahmed Munirus Salehin, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md Golam Sarwar, Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) Director General Md Shahidul Alam and high officials of the two countries were present on the occasion.
Earlier on December 11, Imran Ahmed said Malaysia will reopen its job market to Bangladeshis by the year-end.
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According to Imran Ahmed, the job market will be reopened for Bangladeshi workers in several sectors -- tree plantation, gardening, agriculture, production, mining, construction and domestic service.
Malaysia is one of the most popular destinations for Bangladeshi workers. As many as 1,057,056 Bangladeshis have found jobs in Malaysia between 1976 and 2019, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
Manpower export to Malaysia has remained suspended since 2018.
Malaysia to reopen its job market for Bangladeshis this year, says Imran
After a gap of over three years, Malaysia will reopen its job market for Bangladeshis by this year-end, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed has said.
“The Malaysian government has shown interest in signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with our government over the issue. The final date will be known in a day or two after we get the necessary documents,” he told reporters at Sylhet Circuit House on Friday night.
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According to the Minister, the job market will be reopened for Bangladeshi workers in several sectors -- tree plantation, gardening, agriculture, production, mining, construction and domestic service.
Besides, another MoU will be signed for sending workers to Greece legally, said Imran, urging people to refrain from going abroad illegally.
Malaysia is one of the most popular destinations for Bangladeshi workers. As many as 1,057,056 Bangladeshis have found work in Malaysia between 1976 and 2019, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
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Manpower export to Malaysia has remained suspended since 2018.
Malaysia donates over 5.59 lakh AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Bangladesh
The Malaysian government has provided over 5.59 lakh AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Bangladesh as a gesture of solidarity and support in the latter’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Haznah Md. Hashim, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh, handed over some token vaccine doses to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at a formal ceremony held at the State Guest House Padma on Tuesday.
Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and officials of the High Commission of Malaysia in Dhaka were present.
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High Commissioner Hashim described the donation of 559,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines and medical equipment to the Government of Bangladesh as a testament to the close, warm and cordial relations existing between the two brotherly countries.
The High Commissioner also mentioned that Government of Malaysia prioritized Bangladesh for donating vaccines even with its limited inventory.
Malaysia’s Gobinathan appointed Head Coach of Bangladesh national hockey team
Malaysia’s Iman Gobinathan Krishnamurthy, a hockey coach of BKSP, has been appointed the Head Coach of Bangladesh National Hockey team for the six-nation Hero Asian Champions Trophy’ 2021 beginning here on December 14.
Bangladesh Hockey Federation officially made this announcement on Monday (Nov 22).
The 43-year-old Malaysian, who played 190 international matches for Malaysia, had been appointed the head coach of Bangladesh team twice earlier, first in the 2014-15 season and second in March 2018.
BKSP Hockey Coach Zahid Hossain Raju has been made his deputy in the tournament.
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On completion of the ongoing Premier Division Hockey League on November 27, the training camp of Bangladesh national hockey team will begin at the BKSP.
The six-nation Hero Asian Champions Trophy (Hockey) Dhaka’ 2021, organized by Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF), will be held on December 14-22 at Maulana Bhasani National Stadium in the capital.
Six leading Asian teams—India, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Pakistan and hosts Bangladesh—will meet each on league basis matches from December 14-19.
In the league basis matches, Bangladesh will play Malaysia on December 14 at 6 pm, play against India on Dec 15 at 3:30 pm, Korea on Dec 16 at 8:30 pm, 18 at Japan on Dec 18 at 6 pm and Pakistan on Dec 19 at 8:30 pm.
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Later, four top teams will play in the semifinals on December 21 with the top team playing against the 4th ranked team while the 2nd ranked team will face the 3rd ranked team.
The final match will be held on December 22.