More workers may go abroad this year: Minister

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad has expressed hope more workers of the country might be recruited abroad this year.

"Compared to last year, more workers of the country are likely to go abroad this year," he said while addressing a seminar titled: "Possibilities of Bangladesh remittance flow, challenges and solutions."

The Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment and Better Bangladesh Foundation jointly organised the seminar at the city's Foreign Service Academy on Thursday.

Talking about reserves, he said: "Our reserve is declining over the period... We must have to admit that expatriates have a lot to contribute in the country's reserve. I think the present government has done that."

Senior Secretary of the Ministry Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Issa bin Youssef Al-Dahilan also spoke as the special guests on the occasion.

Imran said the Bangladesh Bank can play an important role in sending remittance money to the relatives of the overseas workers. So, the central bank authority should adopt an easy system such as 'mobile financial service' to help the overseas workers easily send their money to their families, the minister suggested.

Chaired by Better Bangladesh Foundation Chairman Professor Masud A Khan, the seminar was also addressed, among others, by Director General of the BMET M Shahidul Alam, Chairman of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit Dr Tasneem Siddiqui, Economist Dr Ahsan H Mansur, Chief Economist of Bangladesh Bank Dr Habibur Rahman and BAIRA Secretary General Ali Haider.