Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have signed their first-ever official agreement on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers. On Monday (October 6) in Riyadh, Dr. Asif Nazrul, Advisor to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh, and Engineer Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development of Saudi Arabia, signed the agreement.
In the 50-year history of Bangladesh-Saudi diplomatic relations, this is the first formal agreement on the recruitment of general workers. Since 1976, Bangladeshi workers have been employed in Saudi Arabia on an informal basis, but no official agreement existed until now.
Earlier, two special agreements were signed—one in 2015 on domestic worker recruitment and another in 2022 on skills verification. With the new agreement, opportunities for skilled workers in various professions will expand, while the rights of both workers and employers are expected to be better protected.
Prior to the signing, a meeting was held between Dr. Asif Nazrul and the Saudi minister. During the meeting, Dr. Nazrul emphasized placing the responsibility of renewing Iqamas (residency permits) on employers, ensuring quick issuance of exit visas for workers wishing to return home, and proper implementation of the recruitment agreement. The Saudi minister assured prompt action on these issues and sought Bangladesh’s cooperation in ensuring safe migration.
The meeting also discussed skilled worker recruitment, training, and the welfare and protection of expatriate workers. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Md. Delwar Hossain, Deputy Chief of Mission S. M. Nazmul Hasan, Labor Counselor Muhammad Rezae Rabbi, and other officials from both countries were present.
👉 This agreement is expected to open new employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers and further strengthen the friendly relations between the two nations.