DHAKA: Bangladeshi expatriates working in the Kingdom have expressed happiness over a ministerial panel advising the government to lift the ban on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.

“Recruitment from Bangladesh will resume on a gradual basis, beginning with house servants such as maids and drivers,” said sources.

Speaking to Arab News, Mohammad Jahangir, a Bangladeshi community representative, said, “Saudi Arabia is the largest manpower destination for Bangladeshi workers, with around 20,000 nationals working in the country. But the importation of manpower, as well as the issuance of residence permits and the transfer of work permits, has remained almost closed since 2009. I am pleased to know that the Saudi government will recruit Bangladeshi workers and open visas for our nationals.”

“I would like to thank the Saudi government on behalf of the Bangladeshi community for their suitable decision,” he added.
Farhad, a Bangladeshi working as a salesman in the Kingdom, said, “I am delighted that recruitment from Bangladesh will now gradually resume.”

Mosharraf Hussain, another Bangladeshi worker said, “We have been waiting for this news for quite some time. The Bangladesh government has requested that its Saudi counterparts re-open their labor market for Bangladeshi workers and allow job transfers. Procedures have been progressing well now.”

Meanwhile, Mohammad Nasir, a Bangladeshi worker in Riyadh, said that this decision would open opportunities for thousands of Bangladeshi workers.

“We are thankful to the Saudi government for this positive decision. It will go a long way in strengthening Saudi-Bangladeshi relations.”

The Bangladesh Embassy has also welcomed the move, saying it would help the country export more trained labor to the Kingdom.

Sheikh Hasina Wajid, Bangladesh`s prime minister, had earlier urged Saudi Arabia to increase the import of manpower from the country.

Saudi Arabia has been demanding that the Bangladeshi government inform nationals about the Kingdom’s rules and regulations regarding residence permits and labor matters to prevent the illegal entry of manpower into the country and the timely departure of Bangladeshi citizens after they perform Haj and Umrah.

Bangladesh has pledged that it would not export nationals with criminal backgrounds to the Kingdom.

BDST: 0832 HRS, SEP 30, 2013
AKA/RK