Bangladesh dispatches record number of workers abroad

Dhaka, May 30 (UNI) Bangladesh made a record in dispatching more than 2,50,000 workers abroad in past five months, the figure almost double of the previous year.

Foreign Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told a press briefing here today that the country earned a record amount of remittance worth Tk 14, 145 crore in four months ending in April.

''If this trend continues, the remittance will exceed 6 billion US dollars this year,'' he said.

Bangladesh's highest foreign exchange earning comes from the RMG sector that fetches around 9 billion US dollars annually.

Painting a rosy picture of success, Chowdhury said the Malaysian government has so far approved recruitment of 2, 69,978 Bangladeshi workers. Of them, finger prints of 1,17,525 workers were sent to Malaysia for their ''calling visas''. So far calling visas of 91,296 workers were received.

Since January nearly 59 Bangladeshi workforces went to Malaysia.

In reply to a question, Mr Chowdhury said the government is contemplating to formulate a policy on female workers who intend t to go abroad with employment.

Some 68,147 female workers from Bangladesh got employment abroad and in the last four months 60,093 female workers went abroad.

Mr Chowdhury said Dhaka and Seoul will sign an MOU on June six to send Bangladeshi semi-skilled labours.

Under the Employment Permit System (EPS), he said the Korean government will recruit 50,000 workers from 14 countries. Under a special package the Korean companies will recruit some 10,000 workers from four countries including Bangladesh .

''One prime target of present government is to open new windows in economic front,'' Mr Chowdhury told the briefing.

Mr Chowdhury who is going to Canberra in middle of next month will hold meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and sign an MOU to create opportunity for Bangladeshis to work under Work and Holiday Visa Program.

Besides, he said the government is taking initiatives to send workers to Sudan, Afghanistan and Canada .

UNI