Over 1.14cr BD workers sent to Middle East in 22yrs

The government has said that more than 1.14 crore Bangladeshi workers have been sent to 12 Middle Eastern countries over the past 22 years, according to statistics placed in Parliament on Monday.

State Minister Md Nurul Hoque presented the data on behalf of the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury during the question-and-answer session in the Jatiya Sangsad.

According to the figures, a total of 11,407,661 workers were sent abroad between 2004 and April 8, 2026. Saudi Arabia remains the largest labour destination with over 53.3 lakh workers, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and other Middle Eastern countries.

The minister also informed Parliament that currently more than 1.30 crore Bangladeshis are working in 176 countries worldwide, highlighting the country’s growing overseas employment sector.

He said the government is committed to ensuring the rights, dignity, and welfare of expatriate workers while also working to expand new labour markets.

As part of diversification efforts, the ministry has identified countries such as Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Italy, and others as potential alternative labour markets amid changing conditions in the Middle East.

The minister added that a 180-day action plan is being implemented to explore new job markets, reopen closed destinations, and expand overseas employment opportunities. Bangladesh is also pursuing agreements with several countries to facilitate worker recruitment.

He further noted that training programmes are being strengthened through Technical Training Centres and language instruction initiatives to improve the skills and employability of workers abroad.

In 2025 alone, over 11.3 lakh workers, including more than 62,000 women, went abroad for employment, he told Parliament in response to a separate question.