The Bangladesh High Commission in Malé has completed over 46,000 documented consular, labour, and welfare service activities and conducted more than 550 coordinated diplomatic engagements during the first 180 days of the current Bangladesh Government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Following the assumption of office by the new administration on 17 February 2026, the High Commission organised an interactive dialogue session with Bangladeshi expatriates in the Maldives under the theme “Service | Engagement | Dialogue — Your Voice, Our Way Forward!”, aimed at reviewing progress and hearing expatriate experiences directly, reads a press release.
According to official performance figures, the mission rendered 34,430 services through its Consular Wing and 11,833 through its Labour and Welfare Wing.
Consular operations included 3,884 passport applications and biometric enrolments, 3,884 server uploads, approximately 3,594 new passport processings, initiatives concerning 175 lost passports, 333 driving licence applications, emergency airport assistance, and thousands of direct telephone and in-person interactions.
Concurrently, the Labour and Welfare Wing processed 425 outpasses for voluntary return, 155 detention outpasses, 192 Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB) cards, and 994 visa attestations, alongside facilitating the repatriation of the remains of 43 deceased Bangladeshi nationals.
Outreach activities were also expanded across various islands and administrative areas to reduce the necessity for expatriates to travel to Malé.
Reaffirming the mission’s commitment, Bangladesh High Commissioner Dr Md Nazmul Islam said, “The welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates remains our highest priority. We take every complaint and concern seriously.
Although it is not always possible to resolve every issue immediately, we are continuously working with the relevant authorities and stakeholders to facilitate solutions through necessary coordination”.
On the diplomatic front, the High Commission identified work across more than 15 new areas of cooperation, conducting over 70 high-level bilateral meetings, 30 ministerial-level meetings, 50 strategic and policy engagements, and 100 working-level communications with Maldivian officials.
In human resource diplomacy, progress was achieved regarding potential employment opportunities for over 100 healthcare professionals, 200 to 300 teachers, and approximately 10,000 general and semi-skilled workers.
Furthermore, the mission identified more than 5,000 potential positions across Maldivian government departments and 10 new employment sectors, engaging with over 30 employers and 20 institutions on recruitment, wages, working conditions, social protection, and foreign currency salary payments.
Regarding remittance flows, official data recorded US$112 million (approx. Tk13,795 million) in fiscal year 2023–2024 and US$141.1 million (approx. Tk17,379 million) in 2024–2025.
To enhance formal channels, the mission undertook over 30 economic diplomacy engagements, including consultations with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), Bangladesh Bank, and senior executives of over 10 financial institutions, while advancing institutional steps to establish a Bangladeshi bank branch in the Maldives.
Bilateral trade expanded by approximately US$2 million, supported by 20 trade facilitation meetings, 30 private sector engagements, and initiatives to boost direct maritime shipping and air connectivity.
In education and capacity building, the mission facilitated higher education for around 80 Maldivian students in Bangladesh, maintained over 25 knowledge diplomacy engagements, and arranged training for 19 Maldivian police officers.
Environmental and health engagements included 15 health diplomacy interactions, five joint areas in agriculture and blue economy, and a tree-planting initiative involving approximately 20,000 seeds.
On the multilateral stage, the High Commission participated in over 25 international conferences, held 30 engagements with the United Nations and international bodies, completed 100 mission contacts, and conducted 10 diplomatic communications supporting Bangladesh’s international candidatures.
Public diplomacy initiatives comprised 30 cultural activities, 15 cultural diplomacy projects, 20 soft power programmes, and representation at 30 state and government events.
Emphasising the diaspora’s role, Dr Nazmul Islam remarked, “Our expatriate community is an important human bridge between Bangladesh and the Maldives. Their contribution is not only economic; they also play an important role in strengthening mutual understanding, trust and friendship between the peoples of the two countries.”
The mission also handled 50 diplomatic welfare interventions, coordinated over 100 emergency crisis situations, and conducted 10 island-level community engagements.
Looking ahead, the High Commission committed to prioritising expatriate welfare, expanding island outreach, securing formal financial channels, and deepening bilateral ties across health, education, trade, climate, and defence sectors.
