DHAKA : Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman today said Malaysia has expressed interest in recruiting around 200,000 workers from Bangladesh within the next six months due to the Bangladesh government's continued diplomatic efforts. 

Of them, 10,000 workers will have the opportunity to go completely free of charge following a special request from the Bangladesh government, he said.

Zahed disclosed this at a weekly briefing on the progress of various government activities held at the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat.

He said the first group of workers being sent to Malaysia completely free of charge would travel on a special chartered flight through the government-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL). 

This would set a new precedent by bringing the cost of migration down to zero, he added.

Regarding efforts to break syndicates in the labor market and increase the number of recruiting agencies, the adviser said under a decision by the Malaysian government, 25 recruiting agencies had been approved. 

He said the current government took a firm diplomatic position to create new opportunities by excluding agencies linked to irregularities and individuals involved with syndicates during the previous fascist Sheikh Hasina government.

In response to the government's proposal, the Malaysian government has taken a positive decision, he said.

In addition to the 25 recruiting agencies approved by the Malaysian government, another 312 agencies have been authorized to send workers as associate recruitment agencies, he said.

As a result, a total of 338 recruiting agencies, including BOESL, will now be able to send workers transparently, he added. 

The process of sending new workers is expected to begin toward the end of September, while registration of previously unregistered Bangladeshi workers currently residing in Malaysia is also underway, said Zahed.

The adviser also highlighted other development initiatives and policy decisions of the government. 

He said that the distribution of Family Cards to 41 lakh families under the social safety-net program would begin across the country in phases from October 10. 

He said the country currently has an adequate stock of 12 lakh 861 thousand metric tons of fertilizer.

Under the Food-Friendly Program, 55 lakh poor families are being provided 30 kilograms of rice per month at Tk 15 per kilogram, he said.

To address electricity shortages in rural areas and increase power supply to industries outside Dhaka, he said, electricity consumption by Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) and Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) is being reduced, while load-shedding is being distributed evenly across the country. 

Zahed said the government plans to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply within the next one and a half to two years through the commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and a new FSRU (Floating Storage and Regasification Unit).

The adviser said draft regulations prepared by the Local Government Division for establishing specific specifications and registration requirements for the operation of e-rickshaws and battery-powered rickshaws would soon be sent to the Ministry of Law for vetting.

Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed, Additional Information and Broadcasting Secretary KM Abdul Wadud and Deputy Principal Information Officer Mohammed Fokhrul Islam were present at the briefing.