Bangladesh's government is working sincerely to resolve the problems and ensure the welfare of Bangladeshi expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries, State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Nurul Haque said.

"Expatriates are Bangladesh's brand ambassadors. We cannot deny their contribution to the country's economy and overall sustainable development. Resolving the problems of Bangladeshis abroad, ensuring their safety and rights, and safeguarding their overall welfare is one of the government's top priorities," he said.

The state minister made the remarks in parliament on Sunday, responding to an urgent public-interest notice raised under Rule 71 of the Rules of Procedure by ruling party lawmaker Md Mobashwer Alam Bhuiyan, who represents the Comilla-10 constituency.

He said 30 labour welfare wings are currently working round the clock to serve expatriates across 27 countries. Additionally, 22 registered law firms are on the panel across 13 consulates in 11 countries, providing legal assistance to expatriates in distress.

He said three "safe homes" are operating in Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and in Muscat, Oman, to protect women workers. He added that when a Bangladeshi expatriate faces fraud, abuse, or injustice abroad, the government arranges arbitration, mediation, and other necessary legal protection based on specific complaints.

Nurul Haque said around 4,000 Bangladeshis have had their visas cancelled in the United Arab Emirates amid the ongoing economic and political crisis in the Middle East, many of whom have businesses and enterprises there. He said efforts are underway to resolve the situation quickly through diplomatic talks.

He stressed that the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working jointly to ensure every expatriate, as a citizen of the country, receives the government's fullest support.

The state minister said the Wage Earners' Welfare Board continues to work tirelessly for the welfare of BMET card-holding expatriates. He said financial grants of up to 335,000 taka in total are being provided for emergency medical assistance to sick expatriates abroad, scholarships for meritorious children of expatriates, financial support for children with special needs, and the repatriation and burial of workers who die abroad.

He said the government's core goal is to transform the country's unemployed working-age youth into a skilled workforce and ensure safe, low-cost migration.

The junior minister added that the prime minister has placed special emphasis on creating opportunities for higher "white collar jobs"—professional and technical positions—abroad, rather than only general labour work. He said diplomatic missions in various countries have been given the necessary directives to this end, and "demand mapping" has been prepared through virtual meetings to assess actual demand in the global labour market.

He further said the process of training young people accordingly and sending them to overseas job markets is ongoing.

Source: BSS