Reza Mahmud :
Widespread issues in Bangladesh’s manpower sector have caused significant disruptions, sparking concerns for the country’s economy, which heavily relies on remittance from migrant workers abroad.
Stakeholders allege that some officials within the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment are playing a key role in creating obstacles to the efficient export of manpower.
Several leaders from the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) claimed that officials from the era of the previous Awami League government have entrenched themselves in the ministry and are intentionally slowing manpower exports.
One proprietor of a recruiting agency told The New Nation: “While we work to facilitate the export of workers to foreign countries, certain officials create barriers by imposing illogical conditions instead of paving the way for progress.”
They urged the ministry’s adviser, Asif Nazrul, to remove all officials associated with the Awami League era to streamline manpower exports.
Reaz-Ul-Islam, the immediate past Senior Vice-President of BAIRA, said on Friday: “Manpower exports have slowed significantly due to insufficient efforts from the Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry. When we establish new markets, some individuals with vested interests, tied to the previous regime, invest heavily to sabotage our initiatives.”
He called on the ministry to explore new destinations for Bangladeshi workers.
Mohammad Fakhrul Islam, Joint Secretary-1 of BAIRA’s previous committee, added: “Recruiting agencies are unanimously demanding that BMET clearance be issued for individuals under the age of 25.”
He also emphasised the need to reopen closed manpower markets, particularly in Malaysia, and to eliminate syndicates hindering worker exports.
BAIRA leaders criticised ministry officials for their lack of action in exploring new markets in Europe, Central Asia, and other regions, and for failing to revive previously stalled opportunities, such as in Malaysia.
They warned of attempts by certain individuals to form another syndicate to control the Malaysia labour market.
According to a report published by Ami Probashi on Wednesday, the total number of Bangladeshi workers migrating abroad fell by 27.40 per cent in 2024, dropping to nearly 1.01 million compared to 1.39 million in 2023. In 2022, 1.13 million workers had migrated abroad. Migration had previously declined significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
The report attributed the sharp decline in 2024 to the political and economic instability of July that year. Despite this drop in migration, remittance inflows to Bangladesh grew by an impressive 22 per cent year-on-year, reaching nearly $27 billion in 2024, up from $21.92 billion in 2023, according to central bank data.
