Government to launch Probashi Card, expand overseas employment opportunities.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud
Chowdhury today announced a series of initiatives aimed at expanding overseas
employment opportunities, protecting migrant workers, and enhancing
expatriate welfare, including the introduction of a dedicated 'Probashi Card'
from fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27).
Placing the proposed national budget of around Taka 9.38 lakh crore for FY27
in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS), he said the government is giving special priority
to overseas employment and the welfare of expatriate Bangladeshis.
Paying tribute to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman for initiating Bangladesh's
first manpower export programme, Khosru said the government has undertaken
various measures to diversify labour markets and increase overseas employment
opportunities.
The finance minister said that the proposed 'Probashi Card' will digitally
store workers' personal information, skills and employment details. The card
will be linked to banking payment gateways to facilitate faster, safer and
more efficient remittance transfers, he added.
Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury mentioned that it will also provide access to
expatriate welfare services, insurance coverage, banking facilities and
emergency support.
The government plans to expand overseas employment through easier access to
migration loans, risk-free migration arrangements and improved governance in
migration management, he continued.
To broaden labour market opportunities, the minister said, Bangladesh has
already initiated efforts to sign bilateral agreements with Russia, Portugal,
Romania, Brazil, Greece, Serbia and North Macedonia.
Efforts are also underway to reopen labour markets in Malaysia, Oman, the
United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, he added.
To improve the quality and credibility of Bangladeshi workers abroad, Khosru
said, the government will introduce a Skill Verification Programme.
Under the initiative, he said, workers' skills, experience and certifications
will be verified through a Smart Skill Bank database, while internationally
recognised digital certificates will be issued to qualified workers, enabling
foreign employers to recruit skilled manpower directly.
The finance minister said from FY27 practical projects will be launched to
strengthen technical and vocational training facilities.
The government plans to engage 7,500 domestic trainers and 1,000 foreign
expert trainers in polytechnic institutes, Technical Training Centres (TTCs)
and Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) institutions, he added.
Another 1,000 language instructors and native speakers will be recruited to
expand foreign language education, he said.
He also announced plans to establish a Foreign Language e-Learning Centre and
a Migration Market Research Institute under the Ministry of Expatriates'
Welfare and Overseas Employment.
To support Bangladeshi workers facing difficulties abroad, Khosru said,
Bangladesh Support Centres will be established at embassies in major
destination countries.
He said that these centres will provide legal aid, rescue services,
employment assistance and rehabilitation support for distressed migrant
workers.
The minister further said the government would simplify the repatriation
process for the mortal remains of Bangladeshi workers who die abroad to
ensure their dignified return home.
Highlighting ongoing reforms, he noted that the migration process has already
been fully digitised through the Overseas Employment Platform (OEP).
To strengthen skills development, the finance minister said, initiatives have
been taken to enhance the capacity of the existing 110 TTCs across districts
and upazilas and to build 50 new TTCs in additional upazilas.
Under the project titled "Providing Driving Training for Employment at Home
and Abroad (1st Revised)," the finance minister said, training is currently
being provided to 102,400 people to create a pool of skilled drivers for
employment opportunities in Europe, Japan and the Middle East.
The minister also said that low-interest migration loans of up to Taka 10
lakh through Probashi Kallyan Bank would continue and the scope of the
programme would be expanded further.
