SANGSAD BHABAN, June 11, 2026 (BSS) - Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud 
Chowdhury today announced a series of initiatives aimed at expanding overseas 
employment opportunities, protecting migrant workers, and enhancing 
expatriate welfare, including the introduction of a dedicated 'Probashi Card' 
from fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27).

Placing the proposed national budget of around Taka 9.38 lakh crore for FY27 
in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS), he said the government is giving special priority 
to overseas employment and the welfare of expatriate Bangladeshis.

Paying tribute to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman for initiating Bangladesh's 
first manpower export programme, Khosru said the government has undertaken 
various measures to diversify labour markets and increase overseas employment 
opportunities.

The finance minister said that the proposed 'Probashi Card' will digitally 
store workers' personal information, skills and employment details. The card 
will be linked to banking payment gateways to facilitate faster, safer and 
more efficient remittance transfers, he added.

Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury mentioned that it will also provide access to 
expatriate welfare services, insurance coverage, banking facilities and 
emergency support.

The government plans to expand overseas employment through easier access to 
migration loans, risk-free migration arrangements and improved governance in 
migration management, he continued.

To broaden labour market opportunities, the minister said, Bangladesh has 
already initiated efforts to sign bilateral agreements with Russia, Portugal, 
Romania, Brazil, Greece, Serbia and North Macedonia. 

Efforts are also underway to reopen labour markets in Malaysia, Oman, the 
United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, he added.

To improve the quality and credibility of Bangladeshi workers abroad, Khosru 
said, the government will introduce a Skill Verification Programme. 

Under the initiative, he said, workers' skills, experience and certifications 
will be verified through a Smart Skill Bank database, while internationally 
recognised digital certificates will be issued to qualified workers, enabling 
foreign employers to recruit skilled manpower directly.

The finance minister said from FY27 practical projects will be launched to 
strengthen technical and vocational training facilities. 

The government plans to engage 7,500 domestic trainers and 1,000 foreign 
expert trainers in polytechnic institutes, Technical Training Centres (TTCs) 
and Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) institutions, he added. 

Another 1,000 language instructors and native speakers will be recruited to 
expand foreign language education, he said.

He also announced plans to establish a Foreign Language e-Learning Centre and 
a Migration Market Research Institute under the Ministry of Expatriates' 
Welfare and Overseas Employment.

To support Bangladeshi workers facing difficulties abroad, Khosru said, 
Bangladesh Support Centres will be established at embassies in major 
destination countries. 

He said that these centres will provide legal aid, rescue services, 
employment assistance and rehabilitation support for distressed migrant 
workers.

The minister further said the government would simplify the repatriation 
process for the mortal remains of Bangladeshi workers who die abroad to 
ensure their dignified return home.

Highlighting ongoing reforms, he noted that the migration process has already 
been fully digitised through the Overseas Employment Platform (OEP).

To strengthen skills development, the finance minister said, initiatives have 
been taken to enhance the capacity of the existing 110 TTCs across districts 
and upazilas and to build 50 new TTCs in additional upazilas.

Under the project titled "Providing Driving Training for Employment at Home 
and Abroad (1st Revised)," the finance minister said, training is currently 
being provided to 102,400 people to create a pool of skilled drivers for 
employment opportunities in Europe, Japan and the Middle East.

The minister also said that low-interest migration loans of up to Taka 10 
lakh through Probashi Kallyan Bank would continue and the scope of the 
programme would be expanded further.