Dhaka, June 22 -- The first day of Tarique Rahman's first trip abroad as Bangladesh's prime minister has focused on the issues faced by expatriate workers, a key driver of the country's economy.

The BNP, which swept to power in the February polls, had vowed to expand job opportunities for Bangladesh's labour force.

Accordingly, the topic of manpower was a key part of Tarique and the Bangladeshi delegation's engagement with their Malaysian counterparts on Monday.

Malaysia has been a key destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers.

However, Kuala Lumpur has restricted the hiring of Bangladeshi workers since 2024 amid reports of exploitation, debt bondage and forced labour.

On Monday, Tarique urged Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim...