The first batch of 33 Bangladeshi workers has gone to Malaysia under the newly initiated government to government manpower recruitment policy.

Under the new policy that abolished the role of private agencies in exporting manpower from Bangladesh to Malaysia since August 16 this year, only the Foreign Workers' Task Force (FWTF) of Malaysia and the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) have been empowered by the respective

governments to deal with manpower.

Sources in the BOESL told The Dally Star yesterday that out of one hundred Bangladeshi semi-skilled workers, selected by a Malaysian company, the first batch of 33 people went to Malaysia on October 6 while the second batch of 33 and the third batch of 34 will have for Malaysia on October 26 and November 16 respectively.

These 1000 workers will be employed in a refrigerator plant of Matshuhita Corporation. Representatives the

company selected the workers after Interviewing some 500 people on September 3. 4. and 5 in Dhaka.

Under the authorization of FWTF. the Malaysian company requested the BOESL for workers. BOESL then sent interview cards to some 500 workers, who had earlier got their names registered with the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). said the sources. The employment cost each worker about Tk 24.000.

Blman Bangladesh and Malaysian Airlines are sharing the business of carrying the workers on a 50-50 basis.

Recruitment of workers through private agencies waa stopped following allegations of fraudulent activities in the business

The Secretary of the Labour and Manpower Ministry while addressing a press conference in late August had said that there were around 1.61.000 Bangladeshis working In Malaysia and about 40.000 were staying there illegally'