Edmonton, May 5, 2024 (Canada) – Delwar Jahid, President of the North American Journalists Network and Executive Director of the international charity, Step to Humanity Association, emphasized the need for careful planning and swift action to protect security, rights, and abroad, especially in Malaysia.The welfare of migrant Bangladeshi workers. Jahid’s impassioned call during the webinar, jointly organized by the North American Journalists Network, Bangladesh Heritage and Ethnic Society of Alberta and Step to Humanity Bangladesh, echoed the sense of urgency shared by experts and rights activists in attendance.
Former director of BARD. Anwar and the chairman of Step to Humanity Bangladesh. A panel discussion featuring respected researchers and development experts including Kamrul Hasan shed light on important issues related to Bangladeshi worker migration. Exim Bank Agricultural University Bangladesh Head of Agricultural Economics Department Dr. Ashraful Arif and former director of Bird Nasima Akhtar were also among the distinguished participants where Dr. Munshi Md. Abdul Quader Jilani, Syfur Hasan, President and Secretary of Bangladesh Heritage and Ethnic Society of Alberta Moshiur Rahman, Raihana Rasmin, Child Affairs Officer Kora Hasan Ivana, Asrar Zahid, development worker Rafat Hossain, etc.
Dr. Kamrul Hasan stressed the importance of addressing language barriers and cultural disparities and advocating inclusive measures to address pre-immigration social disparities. He highlighted the role of influential figures such as Mahathir Muhammad in facilitating the immigration of Bangladeshis to Malaysia, targeting Malaysia’s relatively tolerant social environment.
Dr. Ashraful Arif drew attention to the plight of Bangladeshi workers, especially those from rural backgrounds who are often victims of human trafficking and forced labor migration. He stressed the urgent need to strengthen the government’s capacity to protect migrants from exploitation and trafficking syndicates.
Dr. Anwar Zahid stressed on the committed cooperation between Bangladesh and Malaysia to address the migration challenge. He focused on anti-corruption measures, transparency, and social integration to create a fair framework for labor migration. He mentioned the various roles of Bangladeshis in Malaysia, including managerial and technical positions, highlighting the potential for positive change.
Nasima Akhtar stressed on the empowerment of women workers and prioritizing the welfare of the family in the immigration policy. She advocated for raising the technical skills of women and conducting awareness campaigns targeting employers and workers to promote labor rights and ethical hiring practices.
President Delwar Jahid reiterated the urgent need for joint government action and the establishment of a formal “government-to-government” agreement between Bangladesh and Malaysia to regulate the recruitment process and ensure fair treatment of workers. He emphasized the importance of transparency, legal protection, and support services for migrant workers, including these principles in a bilateral agreement aimed at protecting their welfare, providing a sense of reassurance about the proposed solutions.
In short, the collaborative efforts of Bangladesh and Malaysia, guided by the principles of transparency, fairness, and legal asylum, indicate a concerted effort to uphold the rights and dignity of Bangladeshi migrant workers. Through proactive measures such as pre-departure orientation, contract transparency, and strong monitoring systems, both governments actively strive to protect the welfare and well-being of migrant workers in Malaysia.
