DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh's interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, on Friday sought Malaysia's help in engaging a regional Southeast Asia bloc on raising the issue of repatriating Rohingya refugees home to Myanmar.
Malaysia takes over the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, known as ASEAN, next year.
The appeal came as visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met with Yunus in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital — the first visit by a foreign leader to Bangladesh since Yunus took over on Aug. 8 and the first state visit by a Malaysian leader to Bangladesh in 11 years.
Yunus took over after Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country during a mass uprising that accused her of corruption, violation of human rights and excessive use of force against the protesters. He has pledged reforms and a push for reviving Bangladesh's troubled economy.
Bangladesh has been hosting 1 million Rohingya refugees who fled violence by Myanmar’s military. They live in destitute sprawling camps in Bangladesh and have long been demanding a safe return home.
Yunus told a news conference after the two leaders held talks that he asked for Malaysian prime minister's help in raising the Rohingya repatriation issue at ASEAN.
“Malaysia will be supporting us in raising that," Yunus said. "This is something we have to resolve as soon as possible.”
Yunus said that they also discussed boosting bilateral trade and finalizing a free trade agreement between their Muslim-majority nations, as well as political cooperation, investment, cultural and humanitarian ties.
They stressed the need for exploring new opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, energy, education, the semi conductor industry and connectivity, Yunus said.
Along with involving ASEAN in resolving the Rohingya refugee crisis, Bangladesh is also eager to increase trade with the bloc's countries. Bangladesh was Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner in South Asia in 2023, with total trade reaching $2.78 billion, according to official figures.
Malaysia is also one of the leading destinations for Bangladeshi migrant workers. About 800,000 Bangladeshi workers are employed as low-skilled workers in Malaysia’s construction, manufacturing, plantation and services sectors.
But the recruiting process is often corrupt, and allegations of rights violations by Malaysian employers and Bangladeshi recruiting agencies are rampant.
Also, more than 6,000 Bangladeshi students study at Malaysian higher education institutions, according to 2023 figures.
The United News of Bangladesh agency reported that Anwar offered on Friday to recruit 18,000 more new Bangladeshi workers for Malaysia, promising to also ensure decent working conditions for workers from overseas.
“We need more workers but they can’t be treated as modern slaves,” the agency quoted him as saying. Anwar arrived from Pakistan with a 58-member delegation for the hourslong visit in Bangladesh.
This photo provided by Bangladesh Press Information Department shows Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in black cap, on an escalator speaking with Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, upon arrival in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Press Information Department via AP)
This photo provided by Bangladesh Press Information Department shows Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, being welcomed with a bouquet of flowers by Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, as he arrives in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Press Information Department via AP)
This photo provided by Bangladesh Press Information Department shows Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, speaking with Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Press Information Department via AP)
Manchester City’s stunning slump continued Saturday with a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers at Villa Park consigned the four-time defending champion to a ninth defeat in 12 games in a season that is unravelling. Pep Guardiola’s team has won just once during that run.
“We have to stay positive, even though it’s difficult, and we have to keep working hard,” City striker Erling Haaland said.
Phil Foden pulled a goal back for City in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough to spark a late comeback.
City dropped to sixth in the standings — nine points below leader Liverpool, having played two games more. Villa climbed to fifth.
Nottingham is up to third after ending Brentford's unbeaten home record with a 2-0 win, and Newcastle routed Ipswich 4-0. West Ham drew 1-1 with Brighton.
City’s remarkable fall shows little sign of stopping, with Guardiola admitting last week that he had not been good enough to turn his team’s form around.
Defeat meant the once-dominant City is without a win in any of its last eight away games in all competitions. While it looks unlikely to win a fifth-straight title, a place in the top four and Champions League qualification could also be in jeopardy.
“We concede the goals we don’t concede in the past, we (don’t) score the goals we score in the past,” Guardiola said. “We have to think positive and I have incredible trust in the guys. Some of them have incredible pride and desire to do it. We have to find a way, step by step, sooner or later to find a way back.”
Only once under Guardiola has City managed to win the title when losing six times in the league. That was in the 2020-21 campaign, when it lost two of its last three games, having already been confirmed champion.
City lost nine times when Liverpool won the title in ’19-20, but its sixth defeat didn’t come until the February of that campaign. Guardiola also lost six times in the league in his first season in English soccer in ’16-17 and City finished third in the standings.
The latest defeat could have been even more emphatic against a dominant Villa.Duran scored his sixth goal in as many starts in the 16th minute from Rogers’ assist.
Duran had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half and Rogers hit the post before doubling Villa’s lead in the 65th.
Foden’s goal in the third minute of added time came too late for City.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Newcastle United at Portman Road, Ipswich, England, Saturday Dec. 21, 2024. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Newcastle United at Portman Road, Ipswich, England, Saturday Dec. 21, 2024. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga, centre right, shoots on target during during the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Nottingham Forest at the Gtech Community Stadium, London, Saturday Dec. 21, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga, right, celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during during the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Nottingham Forest at the Gtech Community Stadium, London, Saturday Dec. 21, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola, center, and players leave the field at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Aston Villa's Jhon Duran celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Manchester City's Phil Foden reacts after Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
