PUTRAJAYA, June 22 — Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged Malaysia to reopen its labour market to Bangladeshi workers and increase the recruitment of manpower from Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for a transparent, fair and affordable recruitment process.

The request came during a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya on Monday, where the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues relating to labour migration, trade, investment and regional cooperation.

Speaking at a joint press conference following the meeting, Tarique Rahman said he had requested Malaysia to consider hiring more Bangladeshi workers and to reopen the labour market as soon as possible.

“I have requested Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to consider recruiting more Bangladeshi workers and reopening the labour market at the earliest opportunity,” he said.

The Prime Minister also raised issues related to the regularization of undocumented Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia and sought consideration for the repatriation of detained Bangladeshi nationals.

“We agreed that the recruitment process should be transparent, fair and affordable, reducing the role of intermediaries and lowering costs for workers,” he added.

Tarique described the visit as his first overseas tour as Prime Minister and reflected on the longstanding ties between the two nations. He recalled that his father, former President Ziaur Rahman, visited Malaysia in April 1979, helping strengthen political relations and laying the foundation for labour cooperation between the two countries.

He also noted that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s visit to Malaysia in 1993 further deepened bilateral friendship and expanded cooperation.

Expressing gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the Malaysian government and people, Tarique said Bangladesh and Malaysia share a relationship built on mutual trust, common values and strong people-to-people connections.

“Malaysia is one of Bangladesh’s longstanding and trusted partners. Our friendship is rooted in mutual respect, shared interests and close ties between our peoples,” he said.

The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in a number of sectors, including information and communication technology (ICT), energy, infrastructure, manpower, halal industries, agro-processing, education, skills development, defence, the digital economy, semiconductors and other high-value industries.

Tarique said Bangladesh and Malaysia had agreed to strengthen engagement through existing mechanisms, including meetings of the Joint Commission and regular consultations between their foreign ministers.

Welcoming the growth in bilateral trade, both sides also agreed to advance discussions on a Bangladesh-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The Prime Minister highlighted the contribution of Bangladeshi workers, students, professionals and entrepreneurs living in Malaysia, describing them as an important bridge between the two countries.

“Their contributions benefit both our economies and societies,” he said.

He reiterated his government’s commitment to job creation, attracting foreign investment and accelerating economic growth.

“We are creating a business-friendly environment and opening new opportunities for investors. I see strong potential for Malaysian investment in Bangladesh and invite Malaysian businesses to take advantage of these opportunities,” Tarique said.

The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the prolonged Rohingya crisis and thanked Malaysia for its continued support for the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.

On regional cooperation, he said Bangladesh seeks closer engagement with ASEAN and remains interested in becoming an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner. He also expressed Bangladesh’s interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and appreciated Malaysia’s support for Bangladesh’s regional integration efforts.

The two leaders also exchanged views on global developments, including the situation in the Middle East, and reaffirmed their commitment to working together at the United Nations and other international forums.

Tarique thanked Malaysia for supporting Bangladesh’s candidature for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and expressed hope for continued close cooperation on issues of mutual interest.