Dhaka:The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has urged the ministry to implement strict oversight to prevent irregularities and ensure that Bangladeshi migrant workers are not harassed at airports. This recommendation was made during the committee's first meeting of the 13th Parliament, held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with committee chairman A K M Fazlul Haque Milon presiding.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the committee reviewed the ministry's functions and budget allocation during the meeting. It emphasized the need for all ministry officials to diligently perform their duties to prevent any irregularities or corruption in the ministry's activities.
The committee was informed that between February 18 and September 30, a total of 432,786 workers, including 36,590 women, were sent abroad. During this period, remittance inflows reached $24.75 billion, marking an increase of approximately $2.80 billion from the previous period.
Additionally, the meeting highlighted that 186 Bangladeshis, including 12 women and eight children, were repatriated from Iran with assistance from the Wage Earners' Welfare Board amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. The committee noted that overseas workers are dispatched through government-approved private recruiting agencies and the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL).
Currently, there are 2,860 recruiting agencies in Bangladesh, with 2,187 actively operational. The meeting was attended by the secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, leaders of various departments and agencies under the ministry, and officials from the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat.