Kuala Lumpur: Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin has announced that efforts are in motion to establish Consulate General offices in several Malaysian cities with significant Bangladeshi populations outside Kuala Lumpur to enhance service delivery. He made these remarks during a visit to the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, while on a layover en route to Singapore on an official trip.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, during an interaction with the mission's officials, the foreign secretary directed them to maintain close coordination with the Malaysian government and other stakeholders to address the issues faced by approximately 18,000 Bangladeshi workers who have valid visas but have not yet traveled to Malaysia. He expressed satisfaction with the mission's performance and urged the officials to not only focus on bilateral diplomacy but also strengthen people-to-people ties, boost trade and investment, prioritize the welfare of expatriates, and enhance public diplomacy in Malaysia.
Citing the recently held Investment Summit in Dhaka, the foreign secretary highlighted that Bangladesh is now more accessible to foreign investment. He instructed the mission to take proactive steps to encourage Malaysian investors to invest in Bangladesh. Referring to the strong political ties between Bangladesh and Malaysia, he noted Bangladesh's ongoing efforts to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN. As Malaysia chairs ASEAN this year, he emphasized the need to intensify diplomatic engagements in this regard.
He also stressed the importance of sensitive and responsive service delivery to expatriates, particularly in passport distribution, and emphasized using technology to enhance service quality. The foreign secretary highlighted the mission's key responsibility in ensuring the welfare of Bangladeshi migrant workers and creating better employment opportunities for them in Malaysia. Additionally, he mentioned that steps have been taken to increase manpower at the High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md. Shameem Ahsan also spoke on the occasion, the message added.