Our heart goes out to the over 18,000 Bangladeshis who missed the deadline to fly to Malaysia for work around eight months ago through no fault of their own, and are still waiting to travel, despite various assurances given to them over time. It can be recalled that Malaysia reopened its labour market to Bangladeshi workers in 2022—after a four-year suspension due to recruitment irregularities—but then announced a freeze on hiring foreign workers in March 2024. This affected prospective workers from 14 countries, including Bangladesh, who were asked to enter the country by May 31. However, despite obtaining clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), completing other necessary paperwork, securing visas, and even purchasing plane tickets in some cases, thousands of Bangladeshis failed to enter Malaysia by that deadline.

The failure was primarily due to mismanagement by the previous regime and local recruiting agents. Since June, numerous promises have been made, but none have been fulfilled. To be fair to the current government, it appears to have made sincere efforts to address the grievances of these prospective migrants. However, the reality remains that these individuals have faced significant hardships to prepare for their travel. Many have incurred substantial debts—with some even selling their land—to cover travel-related expenses. As they continue to wait, some have had to take on further loans, while others are struggling to cope with mounting interest on their existing debts. The psychological toll of this prolonged uncertainty has also been immense, with many families facing anxiety about their financial stability and future. Under these circumstances, the longer they have to wait to travel to Malaysia, the more debt-ridden and vulnerable they will become.

Recently, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul assured prospective migrants that they would be sent to Malaysia in phases, starting in late March or early April. He stated that those with BMET clearance and visas would begin travelling by the end of March, while those without BMET cards but with visas would be prioritised next. He further mentioned that individuals without BMET cards or visas should reclaim their passports and funds from the recruitment agencies, with ministry support in the process if necessary.

While we are encouraged by the law adviser's assurance, it is essential that these promises translate into action without further delay and that the timeline is followed without exception. Transparency and regular updates on the progress of the phased travel plan would help rebuild trust among the affected workers. Additionally, the government should ensure strict oversight of recruiting agents and agencies to prevent similar lapses in the future.