The export of Bangladeshi workers abroad is set to exceed the 10-lakh figure this year, which would be the highest in the history of the country’s expatriate sector, announced minister for expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment Nurul Islam. “Over 9.73 lakh Bangladeshi workers have been employed in different countries this year till today (Sunday). Of them, 1.18 lakh are female workers,” he said while speaking at a press conference at the conference room of the ministry yesterday. He added that the number of workers would surpass 10 lakh by the end of December. He said most of the workers went to Saudi Arabia this year, with that country alone accounting for 5.62 lakh, he said.

The minister said the country’s manpower exports broke the previous record this year and the trend of manpower exports is increasing day by day as new markets are being opened up.

“We have exported some people to Russia, responding to their requirements. The market of Middle Eastern countries will also be opened up soon. The Japanese government has also agreed to import workers from Bangladesh following the memorandum of cooperation (MoC) signed earlier. The procedure will be finalised by this month,” he claimed.

The ministry arranged the press conference to mark the International Migrants Day, to be observed in Bangladesh and elsewhere worldwide today.

Replying to a question, he said the ministry received only nine complaints from female workers who were abused in destination countries in the current year. “We have received only nine complaints and have already attended to all the cases,” he said.

The minister alleged that there were some “violations” and incidents of “nuisance” affecting Bangladeshi female workers in the Middle Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.

He said if they receive any complaint, they communicate to the Bangladeshi embassies concerned and try to resolve the problems of the migrant workers.

The minister said the ministry is exploring new destinations for manpower exports to continue the trend. A study to explore new markets in 52 countries is almost complete, he added.

Nurul Islam elaborated on his ministry’s achievements in the past one

year and the programmes undertaken with respect to Migrants Day. This year’s slogan in relation to the day is ‘Safe Migration, Sustainable Development’.

The secretary of the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment department, Namita Halder, said the ministry focuses on sending skilled workers, especially from those districts from which fewer numbers of workers have migrated abroad.

She said the aspirant workers would be given training before they are sent abroad following the agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Earlier, the minister inaugurated a daycare centre on the ninth floor of the ministry for the children of the expatriate families. He also inaugurated three hotline numbers—01784333333, 01794333333 and 02-9334888—so that family members can enquire about the well-being of the expatriates.

Nurul Islam added that the minister for home affairs, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, would inaugurate the programme to mark International Migrants Day by taking part in a rally which would start from the front of South Plaza of Parliament Complex at 8am today ending at Bangabandhu Int’l Conference Centre.