Parliamentary Committee Issues Strict Directives to End Harassment of Expatriates at Airports
A parliamentary watchdog has recommended strict surveillance to ensure that expatriate workers face no negligence or harassment at airports upon returning home. The committee also urged officers and employees of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment to carry out their duties with honesty and caution to prevent irregularities, corruption, and procedural deviations.
These directives were issued on Thursday (October 8) during the first meeting of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of the 13th National Parliament, held at the Parliament Building. The meeting was chaired by Committee Chairman A.K.M. Fazlul Haque Milon. The session commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by introductions between committee members and officials from the ministry and the Parliament Secretariat. The committee subsequently reviewed the ministry’s operational scope and budget allocations.
Data presented at the meeting revealed that between February 18 and September 30, 2026, a total of 432,786 workers traveled abroad for employment, including 36,590 female workers. Remittance inflows during this timeframe reached 24.75 billion USD, representing an increase of approximately 2.80 billion USD compared to the same period in the preceding year. Additionally, the committee was briefed on the safe repatriation of 186 Bangladeshis, including 12 women and 8 children from Iran amidst the recent conflict in the Middle East, funded by the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board.
Regarding manpower recruitment channels, officials disclosed that 2,187 out of 2,860 government-approved private recruiting agencies are currently active. Overseas employment continues to be facilitated primarily through these licensed agencies and the state-run Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL).
Chaired by A.K.M. Fazlul Haque Milon, the meeting was attended by committee members including Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, State Minister Md. Nurul Haque, Golam Mohammad Siraj, Md. Jasim Uddin, Rafiqul Islam Hilali, Nasir Uddin Ahmed, Md. Anwarul Islam, and Abul Kowser Mohammad Nazrul Islam.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, departmental heads, and senior officials of the Parliament Secretariat were also present.
