The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign job market for Bangladeshi workers is now expanding at record levels, contributing to a faster increase in remittances, said Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.

"This year already 733,000 workers have got emigration clearance for foreign employment," he told the media during a visit to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment & Training (BMET) in the city's Kakrail area Wednesday.

At this rate, he hoped, the record figure of 832,000 in 2007 would be exceeded in 2008.

"Also this year so far an amount of US $6.85 billion has been received as remittances, which has already crossed last year's record amount of US $6.4 billion," said Iftekhar Chowdhury, also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment. "However, I would reiterate that our main goal is to ensure welfare of our workers abroad, and along with increasing numbers we are underscoring the need for increased welfare," he said.

The Adviser met with the officials of BMET and witnessed a 'briefing session' for outgoing workers to Malaysia.

Addressing the outbound workers, he wished them luck and assured them that everything would be done to ensure that they are not exploited.

He also expressed the hope that more and more workers would come from the 'Monga-hit' areas of North Bengal and urged the officials to make this happen.

"I am told that this year so far 10,000 workers have gone abroad from the Monga-affected region compared to 8000 last year, which is an encouraging signal," he said.