The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

A high-level 16-member Saudi delegation led by Deputy Labour Minister Ahmed Abdulraham Al- Mansour will visit Bangladesh on April 7-8 in connection with the Joint Commission dialogue between the two countries.

A spokesman of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment yesterday said issues pertaining to Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia would be a major topic on the agenda.

The delegation will pay a courtesy call on Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

It may be mentioned that over 1.7 million Bangladeshis are currently working in Saudi Arabia. The media has reported on some serious problems that some of them are facing.

During the recent OIC summit in Dakar, the Foreign Adviser held bilateral meetings with the Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Nizar Obeid Madani and Deputy Minister Prince Turki Bin Mohammed bin Saud el Kabir. They assured the Foreign Adviser that the issues raised would be looked into, the spokesman said.

A website which had been disseminating anti-Bangladesh propaganda has now been shut down following intense lobbying by Bangladesh authorities. Also, the minimum salary of Bangladeshi workers has been raised from 400 SR to 550 SR.

Saudi Arabia, while imposing a temporary ban of household and agricultural workers, has said they would welcome more skilled labour force from Bangladesh.

"Saudi Arabia will remain an important market for us for a long time. We must keep in mind their requirements while developing our work-force capabilities. We should no longer suffer exploitation due to lower skills," the Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said.