Government Working on Training and Rehabilitation of Expatriates Returning Home: Nur

State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur has stated that the government is working on the training and rehabilitation of expatriate workers who have returned home after being affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. He also mentioned that initiatives are underway to explore new labor markets outside the Middle East.
The State Minister made these remarks to reporters on Tuesday (October 13) following the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Sonar Manush Sammelan 2026’ (Golden People Conference 2026), organized to mark the 30th anniversary of RAMRU at the Hotel InterContinental in the capital.

Nurul Haque Nur noted that many Bangladeshis have lost their jobs due to the war in the Middle East. However, he expressed hope that new employment opportunities might arise during the reconstruction efforts in the affected countries once the conflict ends.
The State Minister informed that since the outbreak of the war, various Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, have been cooperating in providing medical treatment to injured Bangladeshis and repatriating the bodies of the deceased. Bangladesh embassies are also actively engaged in this matter.
He added that following an attack in Riyadh, the Bangladeshi Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and senior embassy officials visited the injured Bangladeshis undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Meanwhile, Nur expressed hope that issues regarding expatriates whose visas are at risk of expiring could be resolved through bilateral discussions.
However, he believes that since Saudi Arabia is currently facing a crisis, it would not be appropriate to discuss this matter right now. Discussions regarding visa extensions and opportunities for workers to return to their jobs could be held once the situation normalizes.

The State Minister also mentioned that government assistance is being provided to the families of Bangladeshis killed or affected by the war. He noted that while some establishments covered by bilateral labor agreements provide adequate compensation, the compensation for those employed by smaller firms might be comparatively lower.