Dhaka, KL agree to check illegal migration

Amid a recent wave of risky illegal migration, Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur have agreed to closely work together for a permanent solution to the protracted problem.

The agreement was reached at a meeting between Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Haji Aman Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur.

The two foreign ministers also discussed in detail the root cause of the irregular movement of people, which is the continuous persecution of Rohingya ethnic minority people in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

An estimated 6,000 Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, who had attempted a risky trip in crowded wooden boats for what they hope a better life in developed countries, were rescued in recent months in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar.

The foreign minister, who was on a two-day visit to Kuala Lumpur in connection with the 22nd Asean Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers' meeting,  thanked his Malaysian counterpart for his help and assistance towards repatriation of the irregular migrants of Bangladesh, said a foreign ministry press release.

In response, the Malaysian foreign minister also thanked Bangladesh for taking quick action on taking back Bangladeshi nationals.

They also discussed the status of recruitment of Bangladeshi workers under both government to government (G2G) and business to business (B2B) arrangements and felt the need for taking more positive measures to smoothen the process.

On the sidelines of the ARF meeting, Foreign Minister Ali also met the

foreign minister of Norway and state ministers for foreign affairs of Japan and India, and discussed various bilateral and regional issues on Wednesday.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende praised Bangladesh's economic development and social progress especially attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kiuchi Minoru expressed his deep satisfaction at the comprehensive partnership with Bangladesh and mentioned various ongoing projects as well as the upcoming prospective 36th loan package.

With India's State Minister for External Affairs General (Retd) VK Singh, Mahmood Ali discussed the recent implementation process of the Land Boundary Agreement and connectivity between the two countries.