Joint task force to protect future Saudi expat workers from fraud: Foreign minister

A joint task force between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia will be formed to protect Bangladeshi job-seekers from fraud and increase transparency in the recruitment process of workers, announced Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud.

He made the announcement during a views-exchange meeting with Bangladeshi expatriates at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh on Monday evening, according to a foreign ministry press release issued today (2 July).

Prime Minister's Adviser on Private Industry and Investment Salman F Rahman attended the meeting as a special guest.

Earlier on the day, Hasan Mahmud and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan led their respective delegations at the second round of political consultations between the two countries in Riyadh. 

In his address at the expatriates' gathering, Hasan said he had productive discussions with the Saudi foreign minister regarding the task force, which aims to enhance transparency in the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers to Saudi Arabia and prevent harassment by unscrupulous agents.

Highlighting the substantial contributions of expatriates to Bangladesh's economy, the foreign minister outlined several government initiatives for expatriates, including incentives for remittance transfers, online offshore banking management for foreign currency accounts, universal pension benefits, and loans through the Expatriate Welfare Bank.

He urged the expatriates to adhere to local laws and stay vigilant against anti-nation propaganda. He assured them of enhancing consular services at the Bangladeshi missions in Saudi Arabia. 

He also addressed the concerns of expatriates and assured to resolve issues such as the hiring of more skilled Bangladeshi professionals in Saudi Arabia and easing the renewal of residence permits (iqama). 

The foreign minister also pledged promoting cultural exchange between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, launching direct flights from Chittagong to Riyadh, offering wage earner bonds, providing expatriate health insurance, repatriating the bodies of deceased expatriates, legal assistance, passport renewal through the embassy, correcting NID card information, and renewing family visas. 

Speaking at the meeting, Salman F Rahman spoke about the various investment opportunities available for expatriate Bangladeshis, including offshore banking. 

He called upon the expatriates to help raise awareness among Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia to prevent fraud and emphasised the importance of verifying employers' credentials before migrating to Saudi Arabia. 

Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md Javed Patwary presided over the meeting that was also addressed by Foreign Ministry's Additional Secretary Dr Md Nazrul Islam. 

The event was attended by expatriate academics, doctors, business representatives, and various professionals.