North America Desk — Asif Nazrul, who served as adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment in the interim government, has outlined several key initiatives taken during his tenure. In a social media post on March 6, he described the major reforms and programs implemented by the ministry over the past year and a half.
According to the post, various initiatives and reform activities by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment have brought significant changes to the management of overseas labor markets. The ministry introduced administrative reforms, launched digital services, expanded new labor markets, promoted skills development and took several steps aimed at ensuring the welfare of migrant workers. Officials said these initiatives were intended to make overseas employment management more transparent, technology-driven and worker-friendly.
One of the ministry’s largest initiatives was the launch of the Overseas Employment Platform (OEP) on April 1, 2025. Through this system, nearly all services of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) have been fully digitized. The platform has been connected with 64 District Employment and Manpower Offices (DEMO), 110 Technical Training Centers (TTC), around 2,200 recruiting agencies and 185 Bangladeshi missions abroad. As a result, the entire process—from worker registration to final immigration clearance—can now be completed online. Officials claim the system has reduced informal costs and saves nearly Tk 100 crore annually.
To reform the migration system, a national task force was formed to implement the recommendations of six different commissions. Several additional measures were also introduced, including the launch of immigration clearance services at the district level, linking databases with National Identity Card (NID) verification, simplifying verification procedures at airports and establishing complaint management cells and help desks across the country. The ministry said these steps have made services more accessible for migrant workers and reduced the influence of middlemen.
New initiatives have also been taken to expand overseas labor markets. A “Japan Cell” has been established to coordinate training institutions, recruiting agencies and employers focusing on the Japanese labor market. As a result, more than 6,000 Bangladeshi workers went to Japan between April and October 2025 alone, compared with about 4,000 during the entire year of 2024. The government has also initiated efforts to sign several memorandums of understanding aimed at sending 100,000 workers to Japan over the next five years.
In Saudi Arabia, the Takamol Skill Verification Program has been expanded, increasing the number of testing centers from 7 to 30 within three months. More than 100,000 workers have already had their skills verified under the program. Training programs have also been introduced following CIDB standards to increase employment opportunities in Malaysia’s construction sector. In addition, initiatives have been taken to help Bangladeshi nurses prepare for the international NCLEX licensing examination, creating opportunities for them to enter labor markets in the United States and other developed countries.
To develop a skilled workforce, construction of 40 new Technical Training Centers is underway across the country, while older centers are being modernized. New training programs have been introduced in driving and auto mechanics, including left-hand drive training, along with language programs in Japanese, German and Italian. Special technical training programs have also been launched for SSC and HSC examinees to improve young people’s skills and employment opportunities.
To ensure the welfare and protection of migrant workers, a “Returned Migrant Rehabilitation Policy” was introduced in 2025. Under the World Bank-supported RAISE project, a database of more than 222,000 returned migrants has been created. These individuals are receiving financial support, entrepreneurship training and counseling services. The regulations of the Expatriates’ Welfare Board have also been revised to provide assistance to migrants affected by war, natural disasters orcompany closures abroad.
Additional initiatives include establishing five new expatriate welfare centres, appointing lawyers to provide legal assistance to migrant workers abroad, modernizing expatriate lounges at airports and waiving ambulance fees for transporting the bodies of deceased migrants.
To expand financial inclusion, the authorized capital of the Probashi Kallyan Bank has been increased from Tk 500 crore to Tk 2,000 crore, and an online loan application system has been introduced. At the same time, the investment limit for Wage Earner Development Bonds has been removed, allowing expatriates to invest more and contribute to the country’s foreign currency reserves.
Several laws and regulations related to migration management have also been revised to improve transparency. These include amendments to overseas employment and migration laws to expand the powers of mobile courts, bring sub-agents under licensing regulations and simplify evaluation procedures for recruiting agencies.
Overall, Asif Nazrul said that during the past 18 months the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has taken significant steps to modernize overseas employment management by digitizing administrative processes, expanding labor markets, improving skills development and strengthening the protection of migrant workers.
