DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may possibly bring the good news of reopening the labor market of United Arab Emirates for Bangladesh workers, said foreign ministry sources.

The sources added the premier will pay a two-day official visit to the gulf country on October 27 upon the invitation from her UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Two agreements related to security and extraditions of convicts are expected to be signed during the visit.

Reliable sources said that UAE put the condition of signing the two agreements for opening its labor market for Bangladesh.

According to the sources of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, some 10 lakhs workers-professionals, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled- are working in UAE.

UAE, the second largest labor market for Bangladesh after Saudi Arabia, stopped issuing and renewing visa to Bangladesh workers on the ground of increasing crimes committed by the workers there.

Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister, however, told banglanews that due to security concern and bringing a balance among the workers of Bangladesh and other countries, the visa process has made somewhat sloth but not stop.

He also hoped that a new horizon of Bangladesh-UAE relation would come through the premier’s visit to the gulf country.

UAE labor market has not been closed for Bangladesh yet, male workers are not getting visa but the female are going there, added the minister.

BDST: 1145 HRS, OCT 11, 2014