The government is taking an initiative for setting up a support center to provide necessary facilities including temporary accommodation to the expatriate workers, said Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed on Sunday. Besides, a hospital and diagnostic center will be set up at Bhatara in  the capital to provide medical services to the expatriate workers at low cost, he said. Read: Govt urged to utilize Bangladeshi expatriates’ expertise in infrastructure projects The Minister said this at an event of Wage Earners’ Welfare Board at Probashi Kalyan Bhaban. Terming the present government as an expatriate- friendly one, the minister said the government is working for the welfare of expatriate workers. As part of this, yearly allowance Tk 12,000 are being provided to the expatriate workers’ children with disability. Read:Brac, Bangla Trac sign MoU to promote “Ami Probashi” app for aspiring expatriates Director General of Wage Earners Welfare Board Md Hamidur Rahman presided over the meeting while Director General of Manpower, Employment and Training Bureau Md Shahidul Alam NDC, Managing Director of Expatriate Welfare Bank Md Zahidul Haque, Wage Earners Welfare Board Director Shoaib Ahmed Khan were, among others, present.

The government has decided to operate special flights to five countries for carrying Bangladeshi overseas workers amid the lockdown imposed on Wednesday to stem the spread of Coronavirus. “Special flights will be arranged for the overseas workers who have got stuck in the country following the government’s strict lockdown. Bangladeshi workers who work in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Singapore can leave the country under the special arrangements,” Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad told UNB on Wednesday. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) will formulate a work plan in this regard, Imran Ahmad said. Replying to a question when the special flight operation will begin, the minister said, “It can be said that the decision is almost final as we held two meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday. There’ll be another meeting on Thursday where the process of operating flights will be finalised.” Also read: Bangladesh put under complete lockdown amid Covid spike The five countries are still open for Bangladesh as there is no problem in those countries, he said.

The government is equipping the migrant workers with more skills to prepare them for the post-pandemic global labour market.

A direct bus service from Dhaka to Jaflong and Bholaganj, popular tourist spots in Sylhet division, will start operating from November 2, with the aim to boost the tourism in the country, according to Imran Ahmad, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad have laid emphasis on technical education during the post-Corona period by updating the current method of imparting education.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad on Thursday said the government is providing all kinds of assistance for the overall security of non-resident Bangladeshis during this coronavirus pandemic. 

Qatar has reopened its labour market for Bangladeshi workers after a closure for several months.