The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The employment of Bangladesh workers in Saudi Arabia is once again on the rise.

This follows a series of hectic diplomatic effort to reestablish the labour market in Saudi Arabia after a temporary lull in March, said Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources.

There are over 1.7 million Bangladeshis currently in that country. There were some reports of negative publicity against Bangladeshis, particularly through a website.

The Bangladeshi authorities took up the matter with the Saudi counterparts and the website was finally closed down on 27 March.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury who is also incharge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment met with the Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Nizar Obeid Madani, and Deputy Minister Prince Turki Bin Mohammed bin Saud el Kabir during the recent OIC Summit in Senegal.

Recently a high-powered Saudi delegation headed by Deputy Minister for Labour Abdulrahman S Albwardi also met with the Foreign Adviser and others in Dhaka.

The Saudi Deputy Labour Minister assured that the issuance of visas would be resumed. He also stated that no legal Bangladeshi worker would be deported.

In April within the first ten days 1924 visas were issued .The number is increasing on a daily basis.