10.74 lakh workers went abroad till June

A total of 10.74 lakh workers went abroad for employment till June of the current fiscal year (2022-23), which is 15.59 per cent higher than the same period of the previous FY.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad told this in parliament replying to a tabled question from ruling Awami League MP Ali Azam elected from Bhola-2.

The minister said during the same period of last fiscal year (2021-22), a total of 9.7 lakh workers went abroad.

In response to a query of Awami League MP Habibar Rahman from Bogura, the minister said there is a plan to sign agreements with new countries for manpower exports.

He also said a process is underway to sign agreements with Libya, Malta, Albania, Romania and Serbia in this regard.

In response to the question of another Awami League MP Nurannabi Chowdhury from Bhola-3, Imran said since the establishment of the Expatriate Welfare Bank, Tk 2,081 crore has been distributed among around 1.14 lakh expatriate workers as loan for migration purposes.

Responding to a query from Awami League MP AKM Rahmatullah from Dhaka, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that earlier the domestic demand for tea in the country was less than the production and that’s why more tea was exported.

At present the demand for tea in the country is about 100 million kg, he said, adding that as people's purchasing power increases, all the tea produced in the country is used to meet domestic demand, leaving a little surplus for exports.

In order to increase tea exports, the government as well as the tea board has taken various steps to increase the production of quality tea.

In reply to a query from Awami League MP Nizam Uddin Hazari of Feni, the commerce minister said there are trade missions of Bangladesh in 23 cities of 21 countries of the world.

They are – Canberra, Brussels, Beijing, Kunming, Paris, Berlin, New Delhi, Kolkata, Tehran, Tokyo, Yangon, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Seoul, Singapore, Madrid, Geneva, Dubai, London, Washington DC and Los Angeles.

He said in the near future, there are plans to set up commercial wing in Brasilia, Turkey, Ankara, Mexico, Mexico City and Africa. Besides, there are plans to set up missions in Indonesia and Thailand.