Bangladesh is staring at a potential crisis as uncertainty looms over the future of its migrant workforce in Malaysia.
With legal migration routes facing significant hurdles, thousands of aspiring workers are at risk of turning to irregular and dangerous migration channels — a situation that could lead to economic setbacks and human rights violations.
Every year, tens of thousands of Bangladeshis seek employment abroad. Malaysia is one of the most favoured destinations due to its labour demands and relatively stable wages.
Remittances from these migrant workers constitute one of the country's largest sources of foreign currency, significantly bolstering the national economy.
However, if the pathway for legal migration remains obstructed, the consequences could be far-reaching.
"Without legal channels, many desperate workers will contact brokers who will promise them to send them abroad for jobs through student or tourist visas, which will only increase the risks of exploitation and abuse," said a migration expert requesting anonymity.
He said that irregular migration routes expose workers to life-threatening journeys, extortion, trafficking, and even death. Once they reach abroad, they become undocumented migrants, resulting in living in fear of arrest and deportation. For it, they have to lead to mental health problems, social isolation, and a life of constant instability, he added.
Moreover, families who invest heavily in their loved ones' migration sometimes taking loans or selling property, they fall in serious trouble failing of repay the money.
"Many end up paying exorbitant sums to middlemen, leaving them in deep debt even before they find employment," said a Dhaka-based labour recruiter.
There is also an international dimension to the crisis. A surge in human smuggling and trafficking cases could damage Bangladesh's reputation on the global stage, he said on condition not to disclose his identity.
K.M. Mobarak Ullah (Shimul), proprietor of Adeb Air Travels & Tours, said that general members of BAIRA are united in one demand--the immediate reopening of the labor market under any conditions.
"We are ready to comply with all the requirements set by the labour-receiving countries. Only the cronies of fascism are trying to impose unnecessary conditions on the labor market," he claimed, " he added.
Experts warned that the country risks being downgraded in the U.S. State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report — a move that could strain bilateral relations and development aid.
Economically, the stakes are high. The loss of remittances from Malaysia, a key destination for Bangladeshi workers, could significantly weaken the country's foreign exchange reserves. Already, concerns are growing that illegal channels might lead to an increase in unregistered remittances through informal "hundi" systems, further impacting national reserves and financial transparency.
The government, already under pressure to address rising economic hardship at home, could face additional financial burdens. "Support for deported migrants, repatriation of dead bodies, and psychological care for distressed workers abroad could add unexpected costs," said an official from the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.
In light of these looming threats, experts and rights groups are urging the government to act decisively, he added.
When his attention was drawn to the uncertainty over sending manpower in Malaysia, another senior officer of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry said that it need to pave the way for legal, ethical migration with zero tolerance for corruption in the manpower sector. "A strong mandate must be enforced so that recruitment agencies strictly follow government rules," he said requesting anonymity.
When he was asked, although the government negotiates with Malaysian authorities and other labour-receiving countries, the fate of thousands of hopeful workers and the economic stability of Bangladesh hang in the balance.
For it, he replied that amid swirling speculation, propaganda, and political finger-pointing, the long-awaited gateway to Malaysia is finally set to reopen for Bangladeshi migrant workers.
He said for the tireless efforts and diplomatic acumen of Advisor Asif Nazrul, the Malaysian government has finalised the date for the next Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting, scheduled for the second week of May in Putrajaya.
The move marks a significant breakthrough in the long-stalled labour migration process between the two nations and is expected to restore hope for thousands of aspiring migrant workers, he added.
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