The government will introduce expatriate identity cards and begin talks to regularise 25,000 undocumented Bangladeshis in Spain, Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury said on Saturday.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists at Sylhet Circuit House, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
“According to our election manifesto, expatriate cards will be introduced for expatriates very soon after our government comes to power,” said Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury.
He said the ministry would coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs to legalise around 25,000 undocumented Bangladeshis residing in Spain.
“We will sit down with the relevant ministries and take steps to resolve the issue as soon as possible,” he said.
The minister also said the Prime Minister had set a 180-day priority programme, giving guidelines to reopen closed overseas labour markets, particularly in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
“Urgent steps are being taken to reopen the closed labour markets,” said Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury.
He said a standing committee had been formed on the Prime Minister’s instructions, with the Ministry of Education included in the body.
“Including the Middle East, you will get feedback within a month on reopening the closed labour markets,” he said.
At the same briefing, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the market for daily necessities remained stable and would be kept stable in the coming days.
Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury said Sylhet zone, comprising Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj districts, faced cross-border water inflows and recurring floods.
“Keeping this area flood-free is a challenge for us, and we will take urgent measures to protect it from river erosion,” said Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury.
