Failed to reach Malaysia: Aspirant migrant workers call off protest upon assurance from Adviser Asif Nazrul | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
June 16, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2025
Failed to reach Malaysia: Aspirant migrant workers call off protest upon assurance from Adviser Asif Nazrul

Bangladesh

TBS Report 
22 January, 2025, 10:50 am
Last modified: 22 January, 2025, 04:30 pm

Related News

  • Malaysia bus crash kills at least 15, mostly students
  • Malaysia backs Bangladesh's bid for ASEAN membership
  • Malaysia PM hails 'significant' engagement on Myanmar as Southeast Asian leaders meet
  • Malaysia slams 'double standards' on Gaza atrocities
  • Joint Working Group meeting: Malaysia, Bangladesh strengthen labour ties through key bilateral agreement

Failed to reach Malaysia: Aspirant migrant workers call off protest upon assurance from Adviser Asif Nazrul

The workers, part of a group of 18,000 who missed the 31 May deadline last year, set by Malaysian authorities, blamed recruiting agencies and authorities for failing to provide air tickets

TBS Report 
22 January, 2025, 10:50 am
Last modified: 22 January, 2025, 04:30 pm
Aspiring migrant workers staged a sit-in protest at the SAARC Circle in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, this morning (22 January). Photos: Kamran Siddiqui
Aspiring migrant workers staged a sit-in protest at the SAARC Circle in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, this morning (22 January). Photos: Kamran Siddiqui

Highlights 

  • About 150 migrant workers protested in Karwan Bazar, demanding job placements in Malaysia 
  • Their demands include sending all stranded workers by 20 February 2024
  • Protesters vowing to continue until an interim government adviser provides assurances

Aspiring migrant workers, who were unable to secure flights to Malaysia, have called off their sit-in protest at the SAARC Circle in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka (22 January).

The protesters closed their movement as per the assurance from the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul, they said. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"We had a meeting with the adviser, and he assured us that the migration will start in March. The workers will get priority based on their documents available," Main Uddin Babu, a protester, told The Business Standard.

"As our demand has been addressed, we have declared closure of our protest," he added.

Workers may begin migration to Malaysia by March, says expatriate secretary

Earlier in the morning, hundreds of aspiring migrant workers staged a sit-in protest at the SAARC Circle in Karwan Bazar, demanding their promised jobs in the country.  

They then took position in front of the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry in Dhaka's Eskaton area

The workers, part of a group of 18,000 who missed the 31 May deadline last year, set by Malaysian authorities, blamed recruiting agencies and authorities for failing to provide air tickets.  

Approximately 150 protesters gathered at 9am, halting traffic between Karwan Bazar and the Panthapath intersection. 

Their demands include sending all stranded workers, whether due to syndication or delays, by 20 February.  

Malaysia-bound workers scammed, stranded at Dhaka airport as deadline set to expire

The protesters emphasised that all affected workers, including those who paid recruitment fees up to 5/6 lakhs but have yet to receive manpower approval, must be sent. 

They also called for forming a remittance foundation for expatriates.  

Malaysian firm faces legal action for abandoning 93 Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia last year

At 11:10am, police cleared the SAARC Circle blockade, prompting protesters to move to a nearby footpath near Sonargaon Hotel where they continued their protest. 

Aspiring migrant workers staged a sit-in protest at the SAARC Circle in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, this morning (22 January). Photos: Kamran Siddiqui
Aspiring migrant workers staged a sit-in protest at the SAARC Circle in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, this morning (22 January). Photos: Kamran Siddiqui

They vowed to continue the blockade until an interim government adviser met them with assurance.  

Malaysia to shut the gates on migrant workers from June

The protesting migrant workers moved and marched through Shahbag to Probashy Kallyan Bhaban in Eskaton at around 12pm, demanding a meeting with Expatriates' Welfare Adviser Asif Nazrul.  

"We will continue the blockade until we get an opportunity to meet him," said one of the protesters.  

According to the Expatriates' Welfare Ministry, around 17,000 workers missed the May deadline last year due to agencies failing to provide tickets.  

"Approximately 2,500 workers filed complaints and have been compensated by the agencies," said Ali Haider Chowdhury, former secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA).  

However, the number of workers still waiting to migrate remains unclear. 

Ruhul Amin, secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment did not respond over the phone regarding the issue.

Despite Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's promise last October to consider these workers, no progress has been made.
 

Top News

migrant workers / Karwan Bazar / Malaysia

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • BNP gears up for polls — preps ongoing from grassroots to top brass 
    BNP gears up for polls — preps ongoing from grassroots to top brass 
  • Non-performing loans surge by Tk74,570cr in Q1 as hidden rot exposed
    Non-performing loans surge by Tk74,570cr in Q1 as hidden rot exposed
  • Representational image of school children. File photo: Collected
    Govt issues urgent guidelines to educational institutes to curb Covid, dengue spread

MOST VIEWED

  • Vehicles were seen stuck on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway due to a traffic jam stretching 15 kilometres on 14 June 2025. Photo: TBS
    15km traffic jam on Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway as post-Eid rush continues
  • Tour operator Borsha Islam. Photo: Collected
    ‘Tour Expert’ admin Borsha Islam arrested over Bandarban tourist deaths
  • Infographic: TBS
    Chattogram Port proposes 70%-100% tariff hike
  • Fighter jet. Photo: AFP
    3 F-35 fighter jets downed, two Israeli pilots in custody, claims Iranian media
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Merger of 5 Islamic banks at final stage: BB governor
  • Infograph: TBS
    Why 10 economic zones, including BGMEA's garment park, were cancelled

Related News

  • Malaysia bus crash kills at least 15, mostly students
  • Malaysia backs Bangladesh's bid for ASEAN membership
  • Malaysia PM hails 'significant' engagement on Myanmar as Southeast Asian leaders meet
  • Malaysia slams 'double standards' on Gaza atrocities
  • Joint Working Group meeting: Malaysia, Bangladesh strengthen labour ties through key bilateral agreement

Features

Renowned authors Imdadul Haque Milon, Mohit Kamal, and poet–children’s writer Rashed Rouf seen at Current Book Centre, alongside the store's proprietor, Shahin. Photo: Collected

From ‘Screen and Culture’ to ‘Current Book House’: Chattogram’s oldest surviving bookstore

11h | Panorama
Photos: Collected

Kurtis that make a great office wear

2d | Mode
Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

4d | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

5d | Features

More Videos from TBS

Macron to visit Greenland after Trump's annexation threat

Macron to visit Greenland after Trump's annexation threat

6h | TBS World
Important facilities including Natanz damaged in Israeli attack

Important facilities including Natanz damaged in Israeli attack

7h | Others
Iran's gas production from South Pars halted after Israeli attack

Iran's gas production from South Pars halted after Israeli attack

7h | TBS World
Why the Strait of Hormuz is a key point of discussion in the Iran-Israel conflict

Why the Strait of Hormuz is a key point of discussion in the Iran-Israel conflict

7h | Others
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net