Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus urged Malaysia to issue multiple-entry visas for Bangladeshi workers employed there to facilitate their return home as and when required.

He raised the issue when Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Mohd Shuhada Othman called on him at the State Guest House Jamuna yesterday.

Yunus also urged that the entry of 18,000 Bangladeshi workers, who missed the deadline to join their work in Malaysia last year, be facilitated.

Mohd Shuhada Othman said a joint technical committee, comprising officials from both countries, held a meeting in this regard in Kuala Lumpur on December 31, and a similar meeting was planned to be held on Tuesday.

Recalling his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Dhaka in October, the chief adviser hoped that Malaysia would expedite the process so that the next batch of Bangladeshi workers can plan their migration to Malaysia for work.

Yunus congratulated Malaysia for taking over as the chair of ASEAN from January 1, and also sought the country's support for Bangladesh's bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of the ASEAN and, in turn, become a full member.

He also told the High Commissioner that Bangladesh seeks support from the ASEAN in the upcoming International Conference on the Rohingya Crisis, which will be convened by the UN this year in line with the UNGA Resolution 79/182.

The chief adviser urged the new Malaysian High Commissioner, who was appointed in December 2024, to work on bringing more Malaysian investment to Bangladesh and relocating Malaysian factories to Bangladesh to benefit from Bangladesh's youth forces.

"I hope that during your stay in Bangladesh, the relationship between Bangladesh and Malaysia will reach a new level of closeness on economic and business levels," said Yunus.

He also said Bangladesh looks forward to a convenient date from the Malaysian side to attend the 4th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism in Kuala Lumpur.

Yunus added that Bangladesh is also prepared to hold a Foreign Minister level "5th Joint Commission" meeting in Dhaka, preferably by mid-2025.

Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary to SDG affairs, was also present.