Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Bangladesh signed a Cooperation Agreement on the sidelines of the Strategic Consultation between IOM and Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Under the framework of this agreement, BOESL and IOM will coordinate, collaborate and jointly implement activities related to awareness-raising campaigns, job fairs, development of country specific Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) and Pre-Employment Orientation (PEO) materials, and overseas market exploration for the recruitment of aspirant Bangladeshi migrant workers, according to a press release.

“We need to move away from low per capita remittance through skill development of migrant workers and exploration of new destination countries” said Dr. Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, Senior Secretary of Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Dr. Mallick Anwar Hossain, Managing Director (Additional Secretary) of BOESL said that “IOM support would be instrumental in achieving the vision outlined for migration management in Eighth Five Year Plan of Bangladesh

Mr. Abdusattor Esoev, Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh, reiterated the commitment to support the Government of Bangladesh for effective and enhanced migration management which would further contribute to socio-economic development of Bangladesh.

In 2022, approximately 1.1 million people migrated from Bangladesh and the country received USD 21.2 billion as remittances. However, majority of migrant workers from Bangladesh are destined towards few selected countries in the Gulf region and East Asia, said the release.

Through this Cooperation Agreement, IOM and BOESL has come together to address different migration challenges and promote ethical recruitment for Bangladeshi migrant workers, it said.