Overseas Jobs Jump in March: Over 1 Lakh Bangladeshis Go Abroad After Visa Issues Resolved
Bangladesh’s overseas employment bounced back in March 2025, with over 1 lakh workers going abroad after visa delays were cleared. Recruitment had slowed in February due to new attestation rules at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, but once pending visas were processed, overseas hiring rose by 68% from February and 41% year-on-year, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
Bangladesh’s overseas employment bounced back in March 2025, with over 1 lakh workers going abroad after visa delays were cleared. Recruitment had slowed in February due to new attestation rules at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, but once pending visas were processed, overseas hiring rose by 68% from February and 41% year-on-year, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
Saudi Arabia hired 80,663 workers, 77% of all deployments. Qatar, Singapore, Kuwait, and Jordan followed. However, key markets like Malaysia, the UAE, and Oman remain closed due to recruitment problems.
Experts warn it's risky to depend mainly on Saudi Arabia. They urge the government to reopen suspended markets and explore new ones, especially in Europe, where skilled labour is in demand.
Most jobs remain low-skilled, with salaries ranging from Tk 25,000 to Tk 35,000. Migration for women remains slow.
The Riyadh embassy has introduced a digital attestation system for job offers to improve safety and speed. Meanwhile, remittance inflow hit a record $3.29 billion in March, driven by Eid-ul-Fitr and a drop in illegal money transfers.