Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said entrenched broker syndicates pose the biggest obstacle to Bangladesh’s overseas labour export, warning that meaningful progress remains impossible unless the sector is freed from middlemen.
He made the remarks in his keynote address at a programme marking International Migrants Day and National Expatriates Day 2025 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
“The entire overseas employment process is surrounded by brokers. At every step, people suffer due to their deception,” the chief adviser said. “If we cannot make this sector broker-free, development will not be possible.”
He described Bangladesh’s young population as its greatest strength, saying the country holds a “youth goldmine” at a time when the world faces a shortage of young workers.
“The world lacks youth, and we have an abundance. It is more valuable than gold. The world will have to come to us, because such a large pool of young manpower exists nowhere else,” he said.
Referring to Bangladeshi workers detained in the United Arab Emirates in the past, Yunus recalled that many knowingly faced risks abroad out of love for the country.
“They went overseas through immense hardship. They knew the consequences of breaking the law there, yet they did it for their country,” he said, adding that after Bangladesh’s request, the host government later released them.
He also shared his experience with Malaysia, saying that soon after he took office, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited Bangladesh.
“At that time, we learned that 17,000 workers could not go to Malaysia because their visas expired, despite completing all procedures,” he said. “I told Anwar Ibrahim that they must be taken. As a friend, he agreed.”
During a later visit to Malaysia, Yunus said he discovered that the entire system was dominated by broker syndicates, with governments remaining far removed from the actual process.
“This is the fate of those who want to go abroad for work,” he said.
Speaking about Japan, the chief adviser said the country urgently needs workers across multiple sectors.
“They told us they need people. We said we have people waiting. They asked how many we could provide. I said we could send 100,000 workers if they learn the language,” he said.
He expressed surprise that Japan recruited 7,000 workers from Nepal but only 2,000 from Bangladesh, despite Bangladesh’s larger workforce.
Yunus noted many Japanese cities face acute labour shortages, with taxis off the roads and vast stretches of land lying uncultivated due to a lack of workers.
“They told us to send people so that transport can run and farming can resume,” he added.
At the event, Expatriates’ Welfare Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul highlighted several initiatives taken by the interim government to protect migrant workers.
He added future governments would have ample time to expand those efforts if they show minimum goodwill, faith and gratitude towards the people of Bangladesh.
