Photo: Collected
There is a significant opportunity to send skilled and semi-skilled workers, including doctors, engineers, nurses, and technicians, to Saudi Arabia, said Asif Nazrul, adviser to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Speaking at a discussion meeting organised by the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh yesterday (28 January) with owners and top executives of various renowned Saudi companies, he emphasised the qualitative transformation of Bangladesh's labour market.
He highlighted the immense employment potential in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 mega projects, including NEOM, Red Sea, Qiddiya, Green Riyadh, Amaala, Diriyah, and Roshn, as well as major global events such as the AFC Asian Cup 2027, the Winter Asian Olympics 2029, the World Expo 2030, and the FIFA World Cup 2034.
The adviser sought cooperation from Saudi recruitment companies, who acknowledged the presence of skilled Bangladeshi professionals but pointed out challenges such as lack of information, marketing, networking, visa processing delays, language barriers, and inadequate pre-departure training.
He assured solutions to these issues and stressed the importance of strengthening relations through regular job fairs, seminars, and close communication with company officials. He also expressed gratitude to Saudi companies for recruiting and supporting Bangladeshi workers.
During the event, he inaugurated the embassy's E-Demand Attestation System, allowing Saudi companies to register online and authenticate worker demand letters without visiting the embassy, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency in the process.
Saudi company representatives praised and welcomed this initiative.
Bangladesh's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Delwar Hossain, delivered the welcome speech at the event. Later, Nazrul met with Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia and listened to their concerns regarding high airfare prices and excessive charges imposed by recruiting agencies.
He assured them of solutions and encouraged them to enhance their communication with the embassy through social media and the official website.
Expressing gratitude for their remittances, he pledged further government initiatives for their welfare. He also urged expatriates to abide by Saudi laws and culture and refrain from any illegal activities.
Regarding voting rights for expatriates in national elections, Dr Nazrul stated that the government is evaluating feasible alternatives to reach a practical decision on the matter. Later, he distributed awards among winners of various competitions under the "Youth Festival 2025."
Asif Nazrul is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development to participate in the Global Labor Market Conference.
Messenger/Tareq
