The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Some 98,000 workers were issued emigration clearance for overseas employment in June, which is seen as an all-time record. "This is an all-time record, exceeding the previous one of September 2007 when 92,000 were cleared," Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, said to the media Wednesday. He further said, "While we are pleased with these numbers, we are also aware that much remains to be done, particularly in terms of upgrading skills." The adviser mentioned that programmes had already been undertaken in this respect.