[🇧🇩] Manpower Export: Prospects and Challenges.

[Bilal9]

Muslims across the world does not follow Mufti of Makka. Islam has 72 Firkas and all them have issued fatwa against others. Not only they killed others, they have killed Mulslims themselves like mosquitoes. By the way how many Bengalis were killed by Pakistani Army? Who came to rescue you?

Like Arif Mohhamad khan had said " Devebandi ke liya barlavi kafir hai, Barelvi ke liye Devbandi kafir, Dono ne milke shia ko bahar kar diya, tino ne milke Ahemadia o ke gair Islami bata diya". This is the reality of Islam. More radical is more pure Muslims. For Sunnis, Shia is an inferior Muslim. For Shia, Ahemadias are corrupt Muslims. Pakistan constitution disallow Ahemadia's to hold important constitutional position.
Hasina ko Hatane ke Andolan mai Hindu o ko marne lagate ho. Mandir Jalate ho aur upar se besharmo ki Tarah aake lacture karte ho yahan. Sharm bhi nahi aati?

I am not going to go into all kinds of off topic discussions here, this is my last post on your questions. I will be forced to delete any further off topic posts.

And please lay off the threatening tone. Not conducive to discussions.

Just chill - this is only a forum, its not a life and death issue.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Doesn't matter what some crazy fanatic or group says that something is Islamic.

Did the mufti of the grand mosque in Makkah OFFICIALLY say these things, or any normal sane-headed Islamic religious leader ?

Don't conflate terrorism with Islam.

I understand you want to associate Islam with terrorism but this is rather lame.

OTOH - your sitting MPs in parliament have OFFICIALLY normalized Rape and demolition of Muslim houses (razing them to the ground with bulldozers).

You don't have a leg to stand on.

In any case - this is off topic for this thread, let's spawn a new thread if you want to discuss.

Muslims across the world does not follow Mufti of Makka. Islam has 72 Firkas and all them have issued fatwa against others. Not only they killed others, they have killed Mulslims themselves like mosquitoes. By the way how many Bengalis were killed by Pakistani Army? Who came to rescue you?

Like Arif Mohhamad khan had said " Devebandi ke liya barlavi kafir hai, Barelvi ke liye Devbandi kafir, Dono ne milke shia ko bahar kar diya, tino ne milke Ahemadia o ke gair Islami bata diya". This is the reality of Islam. More radical is more pure Muslims. For Sunnis, Shia is an inferior Muslim. For Shia, Ahemadias are corrupt Muslims. Pakistan constitution disallow Ahemadia's to hold important constitutional position.
Hasina ko Hatane ke Andolan mai Hindu o ko marne lagate ho. Mandir Jalate ho aur upar se besharmo ki Tarah aake lacture karte ho yahan. Sharm bhi nahi aati?

I am not going to go into all kinds of off topic discussions here, this is my last post on your questions. I will be forced to delete any further off topic posts.

And please lay off the threatening tone. Not conducive to discussions.

Just chill - this is only a forum, its not a life and death issue.

I have not taken this or any forum as life or death issue. Relax and enjoy.

 

[Dogun18]

I am not going to go into all kinds of off topic discussions here, this is my last post on your questions. I will be forced to delete any further off topic posts.

And please lay off the threatening tone. Not conducive to discussions.

Let's allow free speech, Bhai. Krish is well within the rules.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Let's allow free speech, Bhai. Krish is well within the rules.

Unexpected support—thanks, bro! However, I believe topics posted with malicious intent should be blocked as they add no value to the forum. Sensitive subjects like rape shouldn’t be allowed here when there are plenty of positive and meaningful discussions to have. Just check the topics I’ve posted—many of them highlight remarkable work by individuals or across eras that often go unnoticed. Let me post some beautiful picture of excellent architecture. @Bilal9 will also enjoy it (Perhaps).

 

[Saif]

MANPOWER EXPORT TO MALAYSIA: Mustafa Kamal among 12 sued

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday filed 12 cases against former planning and finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and his family members, among 32 people, on charges of embezzling Tk 1,128 crore by extracting unlawful amounts for fees from migrant workers.

www.newagebd.net

MANPOWER EXPORT TO MALAYSIA: Mustafa Kamal among 12 sued
Staff Correspondent 11 March, 2025, 23:23

AHM Mustafa Kamal. | File photo

Tk 1,128cr embezzlement alleged

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday filed 12 cases against former planning and finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and his family members, among 32 people, on charges of embezzling Tk 1,128 crore by extracting unlawful amounts for fees from migrant workers.

The accused are owners and officials of 12 recruiting agencies.

The other accused include three more former lawmakers—Nizam Uddin Hazari, Lieutenant General (retired) Masud Uddin Chowdhury and Benajir Ahmed—and well-known business magnate Mohd Noor Ali and his family members.

The agency filed the cases with its Dhaka-1 integrated district office following approval of the commission on the day, said its director general for prevention Md Akhtar Hossain.

According to the cases, the accused are charged with embezzling and laundering Tk 1,128 crore which they allegedly took from the workers they sent to Malaysia by charging them excess of the government-set fee Tk 78,990 for each worker.

The statements of the cases said that the 12 recruitment agencies unlawfully took additional Tk 1,67,500 beyond the government-approved rate from each of the over 67,380 workers.

The statement of a case filed against AHM Mustafa Kamal, the owner of Orbital Enterprise, and his wife Kashmiri Kamal, said that from 6,029 workers they took Tk 100 crore excess of the government-fixed rate.

In yet another case, Mustafa Kamal and daughter Nafisa Kamal as co-owners of another company ‘Orbital International’ are accused of embezzling Tk 50 crore from 2,995 workers.

The case against former lawmaker from the Feni-22 constituency, Nizam Uddin Hazari, and his wife Nurjahan Begum states that their company ‘Snigdha Overseas,’ illegally took Tk 111.5 crore from 6,657 workers.

Snigdha Overseas officials Sheikh Abdullah, Jahangir Alam, M Amirul Islam, Jasim Uddin and Ziaur Rahman have also been accused in the case.

In another case, recruiting agency ‘Binimoy International’ owner and former Chauddagram upazila chairman Abdus Sobhan Bhuiyan and his wife Taslima Akhtar have been accused on charges of taking Tk 91.42 crore illegally from 5,458 workers.

Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a retired lieutenant general, and his daughter Tasnia Masud, owners of ‘5 M International Limited’, and its officials Mohammad Abdul Mukit and Mehbuba Aftab Shathi in another case have been charged with illegally taking Tk 119.32 crore from 7,124 workers.

The ACC has also filed a case against Unique Eastern Ltd owners Mohd Noor Ali, his wife Selina Ali and daughter Nabila Ali, and company officials Nasir Uddin Ahmed and Khandaker Shawkat Hossain on charges of unlawfully taking Tk 63.44 crore from 3,788 workers.

Another case has been filed against Catharsis International Ltd owners Md Ruhul Amin and wife Lutfur Nessa Shelly for taking an additional Tk 130.43 crore from 7,787 workers.

Former lawmaker from the Dhaka-20 constituency Benjir Ahmed, also owner of M/S Ahmed International, has been accused in a case for taking additional Tk 143.91 crore from 8,592 workers.

Shafiqul Islam, former councillor of Badda and owner of BM Travels Ltd, along with his wife Mousumi Akhter, has been accused in another case on charges of unlawfully taking Tk 135.55 crore from 8,093 workers.

The anti-corruption agency has also filed a case against Engineer Ishtiaq Ahmed Soikat, owner of BNS Overseas Ltd, and his wife Nasrun Nessa on charges of illegally taking Tk 70.6 crore from 4,215 workers through his company.

The commission filed a case against Md Mojibur Hossain Rubel, the owner of Rubel Bangladesh, and his wife Kamrun Nahar Hiramoni, alleging that their company illegally charged an additional Tk 47.65 crore from 2,845 workers.

The owners of The Ifti Overseas, Md Rubel and Borhan Uddin (Panna), are among the accused in a case filed on charges of illegally extracting Tk 63.59 crore from 3,797 workers.

The anti-corruption commission said that the recruitment agencies were found to have abused their position by illegally charging workers exorbitant fees in excess of the government’s approved rate, under the guise of fees for passport handling, health check-up and other administrative services.

The ACC said that its inquiry revealed that these individuals and companies systematically violated Bangladesh’s recruitment and labour export laws and regulations to exploit the migrant workers.​

 

[Saif]

Jahangir urges Saudi Arabia to take more manpower from Bangladesh

Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) has called upon Saudi Arabia to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh. “Saudi Arabia is one of the largest development partners of Bangladesh. The largest numbers of Bangladeshis are now working in Saudi Arabia. Currently, 3

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Jahangir urges Saudi Arabia to take more manpower from Bangladesh
Published :
Apr 09, 2025 21:45
Updated :
Apr 09, 2025 22:04

Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) has called upon Saudi Arabia to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh.

“Saudi Arabia is one of the largest development partners of Bangladesh. The largest numbers of Bangladeshis are now working in Saudi Arabia. Currently, 3.2 million Bangladeshis are working in different sectors in Saudi Arabia. Increase the recruitment of Bangladeshis to 4 million,” he said.

He made the appeal when Saudi Arabia ambassador Essa Bin Yousef Essa Al Duhailan paid a courtesy call on the adviser at his ministry office at Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka, reports BSS.

The meeting discussed various issues of mutual interest that include ithe ssuance and re-issuance of passports in favour of 69,000 Bangladeshi citizens living in Saudi Arabia without valid passports.

The Saudi Ambassador assured that Saudi Arabia’s all-round cooperation in the development of Bangladesh will continue.

“In addition to manpower export, cooperation between the countries has been continuing on various sectors, including business, trade, investment, tourism and culture,” he said.

The envoy said that Saudi Arabia has always been by Bangladesh’s side and will continue to be in the near future.

Special Assistant to Hon’ble Chief Adviser (Equivalent to State Minister) Md. Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry Nasimul Ghani, and senior officials of the Ministries of Home and Foreign Affairs, were present.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh urges Slovakia to recruit Bangladeshi workers

Bangladesh has urged Slovakia to recruit a good number of Bangladeshi workers in various sectors including automotive industry and facilitate Slovak visa for Bangladeshi citizens. The call was made when Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain and Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Mahfuz Alam had

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh urges Slovakia to recruit Bangladeshi workers
BSS
Published :
Apr 12, 2025 16:29
Updated :
Apr 12, 2025 16:29

Bangladesh has urged Slovakia to recruit a good number of Bangladeshi workers in various sectors including automotive industry and facilitate Slovak visa for Bangladeshi citizens.

The call was made when Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain and Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Mahfuz Alam had a meeting with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Juraj Blanár on the sidelines of the 'Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF)2025' in Antalya, Turkey on Friday, said a foreign ministry's press release here.

During their meeting, both sides acknowledged the importance of further strengthening the relationship between Bangladesh and Slovakia, which is grounded in shared values, principles, and mutual understanding.

They expressed their commitment to enhancing bilateral ties across various areas of shared interest.

The foreign adviser emphasized the need for boosting cooperation in the field of bilateral trade, investment and economic collaboration.

He apprised of Bangladesh's potential as investment destination and urged to send a Slovak delegation to Bangladesh to find the potentials of trade and investment.

Hossain further proposed that the Slovak Republic can follow the 'Talent Partnership' model of the European Union to recruit Bangladeshi workers in various sectors.

They also discussed ways for enhancing cooperation in different multilateral fora.

The Slovak Minister agreed to enhance B to B connection and send a business team to Bangladesh to explore opportunities for investment.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey and other senior officials from both the sides attended the meeting.

The three-day ADF 2025 kicked off today in Antalya hosted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry with the theme, "Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World", under the patronage of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

This year's theme reflects the pressing need for diplomacy to reassert itself as a stabilizing force, amid rising global divisions.

The ADF gathered global leaders, policymakers, academics, business experts and as well as representatives of media and civil society to explore how diplomacy can turn the tide and navigate us through a fragmented world to find a common ground for collective action.

More than 20 heads of state and government, over 50 foreign ministers, more than 70 ministers, and approximately 60 senior representatives from international organizations, as well as over 4,000 guests, including students attended the forum.​

 

[Saif]

Migrants' lives matter more than their remittances

Ensure safe recruitment, working conditions for migrant workers

www.thedailystar.net

Migrants' lives matter more than their remittances
Ensure safe recruitment, working conditions for migrant workers

VISUAL: STAR

It is unfortunate that we celebrate the remittance earnings of our migrant workers but our actions fall drastically short when it comes to ensuring their safety, dignity, and well-being both at home and abroad. In particular, the steady stream of coffins returning home—with migrants' lives cut short by health issues, workplace accidents, etc.—is a stark reminder of our collective failure to protect them.

According to the Wage Earners' Welfare Board, 4,813 bodies of migrant workers were brought back to Bangladesh in 2024 alone. The number of deaths has been rising steadily since 2020, increasing by more than 50 percent. In total, over the past four decades, at least 57,216 migrant workers' bodies have been repatriated. Many more are buried overseas, with families sometimes choosing not to bring the bodies home. When a body is repatriated, the Welfare Board provides Tk 35,000 for burial and transport costs. Besides, under a 2023 insurance scheme, families of insured workers who paid a one-time Tk 1,000 premium can receive up to Tk 10 lakh in the event of a work-related death.

Ironically, the official causes of death in most cases are listed as strokes, brain haemorrhages, or heart attacks—categorised as "natural causes." But experts have questioned this narrative, pointing out that most deceased workers were between 38 and 42 years old and reportedly had no prior health issues. Unfortunately, bodies are not re-autopsied upon return to Bangladesh. As a government official told this daily, rather unconvincingly, it is "difficult" to probe these untimely deaths further as autopsies conducted in host countries fall under their legal jurisdiction. But the question remains: Why, after all these years, have we failed to ensure a transparent and credible process for investigating the deaths of our migrant workers?

Government data shows that most of these deaths occur in the Gulf region, where extreme heat and gruelling work conditions—especially at construction sites—have taken a severe toll. A 2023 study highlighted the link between excessive heat and poor health outcomes among workers in the Gulf. Yet, there has been little visible effort to negotiate better terms for Bangladeshi workers abroad.

Given these realities, we urge the government to push for safer and more humane recruitment and working conditions in host countries. Employers must be compelled to comply with international labour standards, ensuring not just better wages but also improved living conditions and healthcare access. At the same time, migration costs must be reduced so that workers are not forced to endure dangerous jobs just to recover their investment. The authorities must also ramp up efforts to crack down on fraudulent agents involved in fake recruitment, wage theft, and forced labour. We must remember that migrant workers deserve protection, dignity, and justice. Their lives, health, and the well-being of their families must be as high a priority as the remittances they send home.​

 

[Saif]

Italy to support Bangladesh in curbing illegal migration: Adviser Jahangir

Italy has pledged to support Bangladesh in preventing illegal migration and human trafficking, along with strengthening the capacity of Bangladesh police, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Thursday. He made the remarks after a meeting with Italian Ambassador to

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Italy to support Bangladesh in curbing illegal migration: Adviser Jahangir
Published :
Apr 24, 2025 20:51
Updated :
Apr 24, 2025 20:51

Italy has pledged to support Bangladesh in preventing illegal migration and human trafficking, along with strengthening the capacity of Bangladesh police, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Thursday.

He made the remarks after a meeting with Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro at his office at the Secretariat, UNB reports.

The meeting discussed issues of mutual interest, including the upcoming visit of Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to Bangladesh on May 5 to 6, cooperation in the security sector, advanced training for police and BGB personnel, maintaining public order, and tackling transnational crimes.

Welcoming the ambassador, the adviser said Italy is a trusted friend of Bangladesh. He highlighted the contributions of around 250,000 skilled Bangladeshi workers in Italy, who play a vital role in the country’s economic growth by sending remittances.

He expressed hope that the Italian minister’s upcoming visit would further strengthen bilateral ties and create more opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in Italy.

The ambassador said the Italian interior minister will meet Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, and advisers from the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and Expatriates’ Welfare ministries during his visit.

On May 5, the Italian minister will receive a guard of honour from the Ministry of Home Affairs and hold a bilateral meeting with Adviser Jahangir.

The two sides may sign declarations, memorandums of understanding (MoUs), or agreements on issues such as combating illegal migration, cross-border crime, and police cooperation.

The adviser reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to exporting manpower through legal channels and in compliance with international norms. “We are against illegal migration,” he said, adding that legal action will be taken against human traffickers and brokers facilitating illegal travel to Italy and other countries.

The ambassador also wished success to Bangladesh’s interim government and assured of Italy’s continued support.

Senior officials from the ministry and the Italian embassy, including Md Shamim Khan, additional secretary (Security and Immigration), Md Jasim Uddin Khan, joint secretary (Political-1), and Giuseppe Di Giovanni, migration attaché of the Italian Embassy in Dhaka, were present.​

 

[Saif]

Why fewer workers going to Italy despite potential job scope

Although among European countries, Italy is considered one of the most promising labour markets, many workers from Bangladesh are struggling to secure jobs there due to a lack of language skills and technical knowledge.

en.prothomalo.com

Why fewer workers going to Italy despite potential job scope
Mohiuddin Dhaka
Published: 10 May 2025, 22: 44

Although among European countries, Italy is considered one of the most promising labour markets, many workers from Bangladesh are struggling to secure jobs there due to a lack of language skills and technical knowledge.

There have also been allegations of fake job offers, prompting the Italian government to impose strict visa requirements. As a result, despite having significant job opportunities, the number of Bangladeshi workers going to Italy remains low.

After a seven-year hiatus, a bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and Italy was signed in 2020 to facilitate worker recruitment. Workers began traveling again in 2021. According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), 653 workers went to Italy in 2021, rising to 7,594 in 2022, and 16,879 in 2023. But in 2024, the number dropped sharply to just 1,164, with 1,246 more in the first four months of 2025.

Officials say that even after receiving job offers, visa processing at the Italian embassy in Dhaka takes a long time, sometimes over a year. After complaints from applicants about their passports being withheld for extended periods, many were returned. However, once job verification is complete, the passports must be resubmitted. Delays in legal migration may encourage some to try entering Italy illegally via the Mediterranean Sea.

A man from Barishal, using the pseudonym Shahzada, told Prothom Alo that he received a job offer as a construction worker in Italy on 28 February 2023. He submitted his passport in July, but six months later, in December, it was returned without a visa. Now he’s waiting for an email from the embassy. Another individual, who received his job offer on 2 February 2023, is also still waiting for a visa.

Recruiting agencies involved in sending workers to Italy say that Bangladesh’s overseas labour market is still mostly Middle East-focused, with only a few Asian countries as alternatives. Complications in the process hinder labour migration to these places, even though Europe offers opportunities for hundreds of thousands of workers, with better wages and more remittances. But this potential is being overlooked by successive governments. Agencies are urging the Bangladeshi and Italian governments to streamline the visa process.

Arifur Rahman, President of the Recruiting Agencies Association of Bangladesh for Europe and Developed Countries, told Prothom Alo that the Bangladeshi government should negotiate with Italy to resolve the visa bottleneck and create a roadmap for sending workers across Europe. This would include language and technical skills training, followed by matching workers with quality employers through labour wings at embassies.
Skills and language training are critical

The Ital-Bangla Coordination and Development Association, established in 1992 to support Bangladeshi migrants in Italy, said Bangladeshis started arriving in Italy in the 1980s, often through irregular means. In 1987, undocumented workers received their first legalisation opportunity. After several rounds of regularisation, Italy included Bangladesh in its official foreign worker quota in 2003, leading to a rise in Bangladeshi workers. By 2015, the Bangladeshi migrant population surpassed 200,000.

However, in 2011, Italy wanted to deport some undocumented Bangladeshis but couldn’t due to the lack of a bilateral agreement. In 2012, Italy revoked Bangladesh’s quota privileges, and in 2013, formal labour migration from Bangladesh to Italy halted. This led to an increase in illegal migration.

According to Ital-Bangla sources, in 2020, a memorandum of understanding on migration was signed. But from 2020 to 2023, about 80 per cent of workers who entered Italy with work visas eventually became undocumented. In 2023 alone, around 100,000 workers faced visa complications, and some even had their passports returned without visas. Recently, affected workers held protests in the Kakrail area of Dhaka.

Experts say Italian is the only language used in the workplace, making jobs difficult for those who don’t speak it. Many unskilled workers pay large sums for job contracts, but without basic technical skills, they struggle.

Legally, a foreign worker must remain in the country of employment for at least five years to become eligible for residency. If they leave earlier, they become undocumented in any other country.

Recent agreement with Italy

On 6 May 2024, Bangladesh and Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Migration and Mobility in Dhaka. At the event, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Advisor Prof. Asif Nazrul said that Italy would recruit both seasonal and non-seasonal workers, and a joint technical committee would meet annually. Plans are underway to offer language training at technical training centres.

Nazrul emphasized the goal of increasing legal migration, ensuring that migrants travel safely and earn fair wages. He also noted that efforts are being made to speed up visa processing through discussions with the Italian embassy.

To combat irregular migration, the European Union has launched a €3 million "Talent Partnership" project, which officially started last December. It aims to supply skilled workers to Europe legally. The project will be implemented between 2024–2027 by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and BMET. The EU-Bangladesh Talent Partnership will promote safe and dignified migration.

Lack of skills leading to undocumented status

Shah Md Taifur Rahman, executive director of the Migrant Development Association in Bangladesh, said 80 per cent of workers who go to Italy become undocumented due to language and skill deficiencies.

“Those who learn Italian still get visas easily,” he said. Bangladesh must take responsibility to prevent its citizens from becoming undocumented in Europe. Without proper preparation, new agreements like this one won’t bring real benefits.​