The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mahbubur Rahman Khan

The door for Bangladeshi labours in the Middle East opens as ministers of both Libya and Qatar have expressed their willingness to recruit workers from Bangladesh.

Ministers' assurance comes at a time when many Bangladeshi workers have faced a crackdown in Middle Eastern countries, on charges of violating the local laws or overstaying their visas.

"The Qatari labour minister Sultan Bin Hassan Al Dosari told foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury that their country welcomes Bangladeshi manpower and appreciates their contributions to the Qatari economy on Wednesday.

Qatari labour minister Sultan Bin Hassan Al Dosari said that Qatar would respect the existing protocol with Dhaka and recruit more semi-skilled and skilled labours from Bangladesh.

On the other hand, Bangladesh and Libya will sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on manpower export tomorrow (Friday), the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment announced it yesterday.

The MoU will be signed by Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, also in-charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and visiting Libyan Labour Minister Maa'touq Mohammed Maa'touq following formal discussions between the two sides at the State Guest House Padma.

Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said: "This will be a significant breakthrough for our manpower export. Libya is an expanding market. Its growing cooperation with the West is opening up many opportunities for Libya".

"We should take advantage of this. The MoU will open a new door for all categories of workers. We have also decided to send a full-fledged Ambassador to Tripoli now which will give this added impetus" he said. "The MoU will not only facilitate the dispatch of more manpower but will also protect the interest and promote the welfare of our workers, which is our current emphasis," Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury concluded.

Earlier, the Libyan Minister arrived here on Thursday morning and was received by Expatriates' Welfare Secretary Abdul Matin Chowdhury at the airport.

Al Dosari came to Bangladesh on Jan 5 this year, when Doha signed a protocol with Dhaka on recruiting more Bangladeshi workers.

The agreement seeks another 15,000 semi-skilled and skilled workers to be recruited in different sectors of the booming Gulf economy, including doctors, engineers, nurses, technicians and others.

According to the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry, there are more than 90,000 Bangladeshis currently employed in the both countries.