Home ›› 17 Apr 2023 ›› Front
Bangladesh – from January 1976 to March 2023 – sent 15 million workers to destinations across the globe, which is a milestone for the nation. During the period, the expatriates sent $278,715.53 million back home, playing a key role in the country’s economy.
According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), 150,93,044 Bangladeshi men and women went overseas for work since 1976, the year from which the government started keeping records.
Countries from the Middle East, Gulf and South East Asia remain the top destinations for Bangladeshi workers.
Saudi Arabia received the highest 54,03,532 Bangladeshi workers, which is 35.80 per cent of Bangladesh’s manpower exports, followed by United Arab Emirates at 25,28, 899 (16.76 per cent), Oman 18,02,929 (11.95 per cent), Malaysia 11,90,210 (7.89 per cent) and Singapore 8,97,404 (5.95 per cent).
Among others, Qatar received 8,52,813 (5.65 per cent) Bangladeshi workers, followed by Kuwait 6,60,897 (4.38 per cent), Bahrain 4,10,485 (2.72 per cent), Lebanon 269,235 (1.78 per cent), and Jordan 2,11,923 (1.40 per cent).
The top ten receiving countries have hosted 142,28,327 or 94.28 per cent of expatriates from Bangladesh. The remaining 8,64,717 people or 5.72 per cent went to other countries.
Speaking to The Business Post, BMET Director General Md Shahidul Alam said, “The number of expatriates has been increasing, and it will continue in the coming days. At this stage, what we are working to send skilled workers abroad at higher pay.
“If you look at just last three years, Around 20 lakh workers went abroad in between 2020 and 2022. My assumption is that around 1 crore Bangladeshis are now staying abroad. Currently, the majority is working in different countries, while some have become diaspora and some are living in different country illegally.
He added, “We do not have the statistics of returnee migrants. The number can be around 50 lakh.”
Over 1m female workers went abroad
Though the male workers’ outflow started first, Bangladesh started sending female workers from 1991.
Since then 11,30,884 female workers went abroad for work. Among them, 43.88 per cent went to Saudi Arabia, followed by Jordan 16.74 per cent, UAE 11.90 per cent, Oman 10.23 per cent and Lebanon 9.54 per cent.
Five countries have received 92.29 per cent Bangladeshi female workers.
“Female workers should have the space to communicate with Bangladesh embassies at least once a month to protect their rights. The government needs to secure this initiative, Tasneem Siddiqui, the chair of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) said.
Around 11.36 lakh people went abroad in 2022, the highest year in terms of workers migration. Previously, 10.09 lakh workers went abroad in 2017.
The largest number – 105,997 people – migrated from Cumilla last year; followed by 69,448 from Chattogram; 62,694 from Brahmanbaria; 48,393 from Noakhali; and 45,455 from Chandpur.
Remittance inflow
Expatriates sent $21,285.31 million remittance in 2022, which was just $23.71 million in 1976. Bangladesh’s remittance inflow crossed $1 billion in 1993 and $2 billion in 2001. Between January 1976 to February 2023, the country received $27,8715.53 million in remittance.
Tasneem Siddiqui said, “People are going abroad for better pay. They are earning and keeping the wheels of the economy turning in Bangladesh even amid a crisis. But, in many cases, they do not get the job which was promised by the recruiting agencies.
“The livelihoods that were promised to them must be ensured.
