Economy
Bangladesh, UAE Collaborate to Boost Job Opportunities
On March 8th, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud engaged in discussions with the UAE Minister for Human Resources and Emiratisation, Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, in Dubai. The meeting aimed to explore increased employment opportunities for Bangladeshi nationals across various sectors and Emirates in the UAE job market.
During the bilateral meeting, Minister Hasan Mahmud urged Minister Al Awar to reopen visas across all trades and emirates, seeking easier visa procedures for Bangladeshi workers in various categories. He also emphasized the importance of facilitating the transfer of work permits between employers.
Minister Al Awar assured that there were no restrictions on employing Bangladeshi workers, emphasizing the UAE government’s focus on recruiting a skilled workforce aligned with the demands of the technology-driven job market. He highlighted the use of AI and related software for recruitment and workforce management, expressing concerns about skills verification and certification of job seekers.
In response, Minister Mahmud briefed his UAE counterpart on Bangladesh’s initiatives to enhance the skills of its workforce destined for the UAE. He expressed readiness to employ UAE language trainers to align the workforce with the demands of the UAE job market.
Highlighting Kuwait’s recruitment of nurses, Minister Mahmud urged the UAE to consider recruiting qualified nurses and medical professionals from Bangladesh. Minister Al Awar welcomed the proposal, pledging to examine the Kuwaiti recruitment model in an upcoming joint technical committee meeting in Dhaka.
The meeting also addressed the welfare issues of the Bangladeshi community in the UAE. Notably, challenges related to seafarers signing with Continuous Discharge Certificates (CDC) to use UAE ports were discussed, with Minister Al Awar assuring a prompt and urgent resolution.
Bangladesh Ambassador to UAE Md Abu Zafar and other officials from the Bangladesh side were present during the meeting. Minister Hasan Mahmud is scheduled for a bilateral consultation with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and will also engage with Bangladeshi expatriates during his two-day visit.
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent approximately US$ 2.11 billion in remittances during the first 28 days of September in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on 29 September.
Of this total, state-owned and specialised banks handled $679.10 million, while private banks received $1.43 billion in remittances.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to expedite reforms and hold elections swiftly. Yunus, who recently assumed the role after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, expressed his commitment during an interview with Tokyo-based news outlet NHK WORLD in New York on Sunday. He was attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time.
Following mass student-led protests that ended Hasina’s long-standing rule in August, Yunus stepped in as the leader of the caretaker government. Known for founding Grameen Bank, an institution providing microloans to the underprivileged, Yunus, along with the bank, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in poverty alleviation.
During the interview, Yunus emphasized that the interim government’s primary mission is to implement reforms promptly and ensure elections are held as soon as the groundwork is complete. He underscored the importance of success, stating, “Failure is not something that we can accept.”
Addressing the pivotal role of students in the ousting of the Hasina administration, Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by young people, referring to their involvement as part of a “revolution.” He highlighted his intention to engage the younger generation in shaping policy.
Furthermore, Yunus called for continued support from Japan, Bangladesh’s largest donor, during this crucial transition period. He stressed that Japan’s assistance is vital to stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy and fostering a democratic foundation in the nation.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, announced today that steps will be taken to restrict the use of polythene shopping bags to safeguard future generations.
Starting from October 1, polythene bags will be banned in shopping malls, followed by a ban in kitchen markets from November 1.
“Everyone must take responsibility and stop using polythene voluntarily. Action against polythene producers will begin from November 1,” Rizwana Hasan stated during a seminar.
The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the seminar to raise public awareness about alternatives to banned polythene bags.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the restriction on polythene will be executed in phases according to legal provisions, and discussions with shopping centers and store owners are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
She also announced plans to make the government secretariat a plastic-free zone by December.
Other speakers at the seminar included Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin, and Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at BUP. They discussed the harmful effects of polythene and the need for alternative products.
Earlier, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a fair showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags and visited 24 stalls. The fair featured products from government and private entrepreneurs, including reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags, and items made from bamboo and cane.
