Remittances from Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia have marked a record rise in recent times, a spokesman of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment said yesterday.
"In the year 2006-07, it was 11.8 million US dollars. During 2007-08 it rose to 92.44 million US dollars, which is nearly a nine-fold increase," the spokesman said.
In addition, over 370,000 Bangladeshis have got jobs in Malaysia in the past year.
"It has been learnt that 100,000 more workers may go to Malaysia this year," the spokesman added.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who is also in-charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment, observed: "This is a very good news for both countries. During a recent transit stopover in Kuala Lumpur, I have instructed the High Commissioner that workers' welfare must be accorded the highest possible priority."
Suhakam Commissioner Datuk N Siva Subramanium, A senior Malaysian official, has recently said that all embassies, including the Indian mission, should follow the example of the Bangladesh High Commission in welfare activities, particularly "in setting up a camp to help their citizens who are looking for employment and facing problems in the country."