In a landmark development, the Malaysian government has officially announced that it will grant multiple-entry visas to Bangladeshi migrant workers, ending a decades-long policy that restricted them to single-entry visas and caused considerable hardship.
This development follows months of persistent diplomatic engagement and is expected to significantly improve the ease of travel and welfare of hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates in Malaysia.
From now on, all existing single-entry visas held by Bangladeshi workers, alongside their Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS), will automatically be converted into multiple-entry visas upon their next renewal.
Importantly, workers will not need to reapply or submit any additional paperwork to benefit from this change.
A long-standing challenge
According to a 2020 World Bank report, official estimates suggested that Malaysia employed as many as three million foreign workers, including over half a million Bangladeshi workers.
Workers from 14 other countries could already avail multiple-entry visas facilitating easy travel in and out of the key destination for migrant workers in Southeast Asia.
Yet, Bangladeshi workers alone were restricted to single-entry visas, forcing many to endure lengthy and complicated procedures each time they sought to return home temporarily or for emergencies.
Diplomatic efforts bear fruit
The breakthrough comes after sustained negotiations spearheaded by Bangladesh's top officials.
Last month, a high-level Bangladeshi delegation – led by Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and the Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi – held a decisive meeting with Malaysia's Home Minister.
During this meeting, the delegation highlighted the difficulties faced by Bangladeshi workers and called for equal treatment regarding visa policies.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, Nazrul described the announcement as "great news" and credited continuous diplomatic efforts for the positive outcome.
The Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur also confirmed the development through an official statement, revealing that the Malaysian Immigration Department had circulated a directive to all relevant departments and border authorities.
"Malaysia recruits workers from 15 countries, but only Bangladeshi nationals were being issued single-entry visas until now," Nazrul wrote.
"This caused significant suffering. The new multiple-entry visa regime will ease travel restrictions and end many long-standing difficulties faced by our expatriates."
Details of the new visa policy
A formal circular dated 10 July, signed on behalf of the director general of the Malaysian Immigration Department, outlined the new benefits for Bangladeshi workers.
Furthermore, instructions have been issued to all Malaysian international airports and land ports to allow Bangladeshi workers with valid PLKS and previously issued single-entry visas to freely enter and exit Malaysia without requiring a new multiple-entry visa.
This policy shift is expected to relieve a long-standing burden on Bangladeshi workers and enable them greater freedom of movement for family visits, medical emergencies, and other personal needs.
Parallel push for stranded workers
In mid-January this year, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met with Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Mohd Shuhada Othman at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.
During this meeting, Yunus urged swift action to allow the entry of approximately 18,000 Bangladeshi workers who failed to meet the May 31 deadline for employers to bring foreign workers into Malaysia due to administrative delays and visa issues.
Yunus also reminded the Malaysian envoy of his previous meeting with Malaysia's Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Dhaka in October 2024, where labour mobility and visa reforms were discussed extensively.
The chief adviser emphasised Bangladesh's commitment to sending skilled and semi-skilled workers under transparent and mutually beneficial arrangements.
Strengthening broader bilateral relations
The meeting also saw discussions on expanding cooperation beyond labour mobility.
Professor Yunus congratulated Malaysia for assuming the Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from January 1, 2025, and expressed Bangladesh's keen interest in becoming a Sectoral Dialogue Partner with ASEAN, with aspirations for full membership.
Additionally, Bangladesh sought Malaysia's support for the United Nations International Conference on the Rohingya Crisis, which is to be held later in 2025, pursuant to UNGA Resolution 79/182.
Economic ties were also on the agenda, with Yunus encouraging Malaysian businesses to increase investment in Bangladesh and consider relocating labour-intensive factories to tap into Bangladesh's youthful and cost-competitive workforce.
"I hope your tenure in Bangladesh will mark a new era of deeper economic and diplomatic ties," the chief adviser said.
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