Bangladeshi students studying in Malaysia may soon be eligible for the country’s Graduate Plus Visa, opening doors for thousands to secure high-skilled jobs in Malaysia’s growing economy.
The proposal was raised by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a meeting with Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on Wednesday.
Asif Nazrul, Adviser on Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, said after the meeting: “Our discussions with the minister were fruitful. In principle, he has agreed to issue Graduate Plus Visas for Bangladeshi students. However, both sides must complete some formalities before the policy can take effect.”
Currently, around 10,000 Bangladeshi students are enrolled in Malaysian universities. While students from other countries already enjoy access to Malaysia’s job market after graduation, Bangladeshi students have so far been excluded from this benefit.
A day earlier, on August 12, Malaysia’s Education Minister Fadhlina binti Sidek met Professor Yunus at a Kuala Lumpur hotel to discuss expanding scholarships for Bangladeshi students and boosting academic cooperation. Professor Yunus also emphasised expanding student and faculty exchange programmes, while Dhaka urged Malaysia to formally recognise Bangladeshi degrees.
The Malaysian minister expressed strong interest in Professor Yunus’s long-running “Three Zeros” campaign, which aims for zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero carbon emissions worldwide.
Calling on global leaders to work toward a non-destructive civilisation, Professor Yunus said: “If you do not imagine a poverty-free world, it will never happen.” He invited Malaysia’s Education Minister to visit Dhaka.
The meeting was also attended by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Fowzul Kabir Khan, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Special Envoy Lutfe Siddique, and Senior Secretary for SDG Affairs Lamia Morshed.
