The Malaysian authorities iterated its decision not to extend the time period for those Bangladeshi workers who had approved work visas but missed the May 31 deadline to enter the country.
Malaysian home minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the period given was considered reasonable and that announcements had been made earlier.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Association for International Recruiting Agencies at a press conference on Tuesday claimed that from 5,000 to highest 6,000 workers failed to fly Malaysia because of the failure of Bangladesh and Malaysia governments.
BAIRA leaders also claimed that no irregularities happened in sending migrant workers to Malaysia by the stipulated deadline of May 31.
鈥榃e are counting the failed migrants to compensate them,鈥� said its president Mohammad Abul Bashar.
BAIRA organised the press conference at the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunessa Mujib Convention Hall two days after the Bangladesh state minister for expatriates鈥� welfare Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury stated that a total of 50,004 Bangladeshi aspirants failed to migrate to Malaysia after completing almost all the processes.
The state minister said that a total of 16,970 aspirant migrants could not fly for Malaysia at the last minute solely due to air ticket crisis.
Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury further explained that the expatriates鈥� ministry approved papers for 5,26,676 aspirant migrants between August 2022 and May 31 this year, while the BMET issued clearance to 4,93,642 workers, and finally, 4,76,672 migrants successfully flew to Malaysia.
Malaysia, in August 2022, reopened the market after keeping it suspended for more than four years over corruption allegations.
The state minister said that they were bargaining with Malaysia to let in those workers who had completed all processes.
鈥楾he Malaysian government continued issuing visas even after the deadline, and our ministry granted clearance despite knowing workers couldn鈥檛 be sent at the last minute,鈥� said BAIRA secretary general Ali Haider Chowdhury.
While asked about syndication, BAIRA leaders claimed that Bangladesh proposed to open visa for all valid 1,560 recruiting agencies, but the Malaysia government selected 101 of them that Bangladesh accepted.
鈥榃e have no choice. All are decided by both governments,鈥� said Mohammad Ruhul Amin Swapan, former secretary general of BAIRA.
Former BAIRA president and lawmaker Benjir Ahmed denied any involvement in lobbying with Malaysia in favour any syndicates.
Lawmaker Masud Uddin Chowdhury said that the ministry sent the list of recruiting agencies to the Malaysian government which included his agency also, and it was purely incidental that his agency鈥檚 name was included in the approved list by the Malaysian government, and that he did not have any hand in it.
The recruiting agents declared that they would ensure compensations for all the suffering workers after realizing the money form the agencies concerned.
Aspirant migrants alleged that recruiting agencies took Tk 5鈥�7 lakh from each, while the government set Tk 78,990 as the migration cost.
Recruiting agents and migrants complained that the airlines charged Tk 1.5 lakh for a ticket at the last minute when their regular price was around Tk 30,000.
State minister for expatriates鈥� welfare Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday said that a six- member probe committee was formed to investigate the issue.
鈥極nce I get the report everything will be clear,鈥� he said.
