Malaysia to Resume Labor Migration from Bangladesh in September 2024

The government of Bangladesh has announced that labor migration to Malaysia will resume in September, with 200,000 workers set to be recruited through listed companies. Additionally, 10,000 workers will be sent to Malaysia free of charge within the next six months. State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam confirmed this during a press briefing following a meeting with Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Mohammad Suhada bin Osman, at the secretariat on Sunday. The discussions were overseen by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Malaysia has also agreed to provide technical assistance to Bangladesh for the use of polymer-modified bitumen, commonly known as rubberised bitumen, which is used in road surfacing. This material is particularly effective in preventing road damage despite heavy rainfall, as seen in Malaysia. The state minister recalled that in 2005, when current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was the BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General, and Shahidul Hasan was the chief engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Bogura Sadar, rubberised bitumen was imported from Malaysia and tested on a two-kilometre road. The road remains in good condition to this day.

The government plans to gradually introduce rubberised bitumen for at least 20% of road surfaces to prevent monsoon-related deterioration. With Malaysia’s technical support, Bangladesh aims to apply this technology in rural road repairs, maintenance, and new constructions.

In addition to labor migration and road technology, Malaysia is expected to invest in Bangladesh’s electric vehicle (EV) sector, solar panels, renewable energy, halal food, and other industries. The High Commissioner indicated that these investments, totaling around US$2 billion, will begin shortly.

On a separate note, the state minister said preparations are underway for a new policy regulating e-rickshaws in Bangladesh. The policy, currently in its final stages, will require e-rickshaws to obtain certification from BUET, government polytechnic institutes, and traffic departments before registration. City corporations and municipalities will issue registrations, and e-rickshaws will not be permitted on main roads. The policy will soon be sent to the Ministry of Law for review before implementation.

The government also plans to introduce solar-powered charging stations for e-rickshaws, with mandatory adoption in the future. These charging points will require licenses from city corporations or municipalities. The state minister highlighted the need to regulate e-rickshaw manufacturing, which currently operates without proper oversight.

In Dhaka, a proposal has been submitted to divide the city into eight zones—four each for Dhaka North and Dhaka South—each designated with a separate color for registered e-rickshaws. Authorities aim to restrict e-rickshaws to their designated zones to improve traffic management. Only two and four-passenger e-rickshaws, manufactured according to BUET-certified designs, will be registered for operation in Dhaka. In rural areas and district towns, four and six-passenger e-rickshaws will be permitted.

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