The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Remittance from the expatriate workers till September rose to US$6.8 billion against last year's total amount of US$6.6 billion, Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said yesterday. "The amount of remittance would stand US$9 billion by December," the Adviser expected in a statement.

"This is an extremely good news for us. We expect the figure to climb even further, and if all goes well, (it will) hit US$9 billion this year," said Iftekhar who also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment.

The Adviser also stated that the market of overseas jobs for Bangladeshi workers continued to expand.

He said some 690,000 workers got clearance till September for overseas jobs against last year's 592,000.

The Adviser described the United Arab Emirate (UAE) as the largest market of Bangladeshi workers.

"An average of 40,000 workers is going there every month. Another good news is that the UAE has asked for 200 highly skilled engineers. The recruitment process will begin soon", he said.

"Still, (workers') welfare is our key aim now", he said, adding: "In New York last week I had detailed discussions with the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and the Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid, and in both meetings I stressed welfare".