During a high-level meeting with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim issued a firm commitment to improve the living and working conditions of the 800,000 Bangladeshi nationals currently employed in his country. Acknowledging that these workers are a vital pillar of the Malaysian economy, Anwar condemned the systemic abuse, wage theft, and recruitment fraud that have long plagued the sector. He emphasized that the era of exploiting vulnerable laborers for corporate profit must come to an end, signaling a shift toward more ethical management of the nation's largest foreign workforce.

Prime Minister Rahman, marking his first international visit since taking office, echoed these concerns by calling for a more streamlined, affordable, and transparent recruitment process that minimizes the role of predatory middlemen. This diplomatic push follows intense pressure from UN human rights experts, who previously highlighted the severe debt bondage and deception faced by many migrants. As Rahman transitions from these talks to a subsequent official visit to China, the focus remains on regional cooperation, even as Bangladesh navigates complex geopolitical dynamics following the recent change in its own national leadership.