Staring at uncertainty

Around 25,000 Malaysia returnees now face an uncertain future with Kuala Lumpur still sticking to its decision not to take in any foreign worker till December 31 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Visas of about 22,000 of the migrant workers already expired as they have been waiting for the last eight months to return to their workplaces in Malaysia, said sources at the foreign ministry.

Though regular flights between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur resumed recently, the stranded workers couldn't go back to Malaysia as the country is not taking in foreign workers as part of its measures to contain the spread of Covid-19. Kuala Lumpur had announced the decision a few months back.

Amid such a situation, several thousand Malaysia-bound workers from different districts gathered in front of the foreign ministry building in the capital yesterday. 

Around 11:00am, they staged demonstrations on the road in front of the ministry building, bringing vehicular movement from the Jatiya Press Club to Purana Paltan to a halt.

"I returned home on vacation in February. But I couldn't go back to my workplace in Malaysia due to suspension of regular flights in March. Though flights to Kuala Lumpur have resumed, I couldn't fly due to the Malaysian government's decision…," said Kamrul Islam, a key organiser of yesterday's demonstrations.

Kamrul, who is from Mymensingh, said he works at a shop in Kuala Lumpur and his visa will expire on November 20.

"I will lose my job if I fail to return to Malaysia before my visa expires," he added.

Another migrant worker, Md Nazmul from Shariatpur, said, "I couldn't get any work here for the last nine months. I am in severe financial crisis. I have used up almost all my savings. My elderly parents and other family members depend on my earnings. We will have to starve if I fail to go back to Malaysia soon."

While demonstrations were going on, five representatives of the agitating workers were invited to talk to foreign ministry officials around noon.

Kamrul, one of the representatives, said they submitted a five-point memorandum to the ministry officials, calling for diplomatic efforts to persuade Kuala Lumpur to extend the visas of Bangladeshi workers, measures for ensuring their return to Malaysia soon and financial assistance for them.

Emerging from the meeting, MJH Jabed, director (Southeast Asia) at the foreign ministry, told this newspaper, "We assured the workers of taking necessary steps…"

The official further said they conveyed to the workers that Malaysia still stands by its decision not to allow foreign workers to enter the country till December 31 due to the pandemic.

Around 1:30pm, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen came out of the ministry building and tried to pacify the agitating workers.

"The ministry is not sitting idle. We are trying our best to resolve the issue. But we don't have any control over the Covid-19 situation," he said while addressing the migrant workers.

He also assured the Malaysia-bound workers that the foreign ministry would do everything in its capacity so that they can have their visas extended.

The secretary further said the government is working on how to help the migrant workers.

Following the secretary's assurance, the agitating workers called off the demonstrations and left the place.