Bangladesh Seeks Malaysia’s Support for Rohingya Repatriation Efforts

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has sought Malaysia’s support in addressing the long-standing issue of Rohingya refugee repatriation. Yunus met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Dhaka on Friday, marking the first visit by a foreign leader since Yunus assumed office in August.

Bangladesh is currently hosting over one million Rohingya refugees who fled violence and persecution in Myanmar. These refugees live in overcrowded and impoverished camps, facing dire conditions and an uncertain future. Bangladesh has been urging Myanmar to create conditions conducive for the safe and voluntary return of the Rohingya refugees, but progress has been limited.

Yunus has requested Malaysia’s assistance in raising the issue of Rohingya repatriation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional bloc that includes Myanmar as a member. Malaysia is set to assume the chairmanship of ASEAN next year.

“We need to find a resolution to this crisis as soon as possible,” Yunus emphasized, highlighting the urgency of addressing the Rohingya situation.

In addition to seeking support on the Rohingya issue, Yunus and Ibrahim discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Malaysia. They explored potential areas for collaboration in trade, investment, education, energy, and agriculture.

Malaysia is a significant trading partner for Bangladesh, and both countries are seeking to finalize a free trade agreement to boost economic ties. Malaysia is also a major destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, with over 800,000 Bangladeshis employed in various sectors. However, concerns about worker exploitation and human rights abuses persist.

During his visit, Ibrahim addressed these concerns, stating that Malaysia needs more workers but emphasized that they should not be treated as “modern slaves.” He pledged to ensure decent working conditions for migrant workers from Bangladesh.

Key Takeaways:

• Bangladesh’s interim leader has requested Malaysia’s support in engaging ASEAN to address the Rohingya refugee crisis.
• Both countries are seeking to strengthen bilateral ties, including through a potential free trade agreement.
• Malaysia is a major destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, but concerns about worker exploitation persist.

This meeting highlights the complex challenges facing Bangladesh as it seeks a resolution to the Rohingya refugee crisis and strengthens its economic ties with regional partners. The outcome of Malaysia’s efforts to engage ASEAN on the Rohingya issue and the progress made on a bilateral free trade agreement will be closely watched in the coming months.