Bangladesh's Minister of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, visited the Hajj Camp in Ashkona, in the capital's Uttara area near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, on Sunday and announced plans to set up a 100-bed housing facility for migrant workers facing emergency travel disruptions.

The minister said the new accommodation would be built to house Bangladeshi migrant workers who need emergency shelter or overnight stays before departing for jobs abroad. He added that 50 of the 100 beds would be for men and 50 for women.

A press release from the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment stated this. 

The initiative is being carried out by the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment on the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and following a proposal from the Minister of Religious Affairs. It will be funded by the Wage Earners' Welfare Board, an agency under the ministry.

Chowdhury said the ministry's existing Wage Earners' Centre currently accommodates 49 people. The additional beds at the Hajj Camp are intended to reduce hardship for migrant workers during crises or when flights are suddenly cancelled.

"The current government is fully committed to expanding facilities for expatriate workers," Chowdhury said, noting that flights are sometimes delayed or cancelled due to conflict, adverse weather, or other reasons. He said the new beds at the Hajj Camp would significantly ease the accommodation difficulties migrant workers face at the airport during such situations.

Also present during the visit were Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Md Mokhter Ahmed, Ministry of Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, and senior officials of the Hajj Camp.