Dhaka: Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday said the Saudi government would start recruiting Bangladeshis once the process of legalisation is over.

 “Saudi government has extended the general amnesty for illegal foreigners to correct their status by another four months up to November 3 next. We’ve asked the illegal Bangladeshi workers to join the legalisation process. Once the process is done, they’ll start recruiting Bangladeshis,” he said.

The minister said this at a press briefing in his ministry office which was arranged to brief media about his recent Saudi visit. Overseas Employment Ministry Secretary Dr Jafar Ahmed Khan was also present.

Mosharraf said the Saudi Labour Minister assured him of taking Bangladeshi workers to Saudi Arabia. “The matter will be finalised through signing an MoU under a technical committee of both the countries.”

He said the government will issue identity cards through Bangladesh Embassy there for the Rohingyas living in Saudi Arabia without work permits.

Responding to a question, he said the number of Rohingyas will be 4-5 lakh and after issuing ID cards they will be recognised as Myanmar nationals.

As Rohingya people went to the KSA using Bangladeshi routes and passports in different times, the Saudi government has requested Bangladesh to issue the cards for people.

Replying to another query, Mosharraf said sending workers to Malaysia is being delayed a bit due to changes in Malaysian government. “Within the next 15 days, Malays will start the process of taking workers from Bangladesh.”

He said a total of 11,758 workers were primarily selected in the first phase and 198 of them have already landed in Malaysia. “Some 14,35,436 people got registered for going Malaysia.”

In the second phase, 11,704 people have been selected for sending to Malaysia, the minister said and hoped that all the selected people will be able to go to Malaysia.

About the slow pace of sending workers to Kula Lumpur, the minister said, “Malaysia has stopped recruiting from Bangladesh as the newly elected government there is yet to come to terms with Bangladesh in this regard.”

Starting from April 25, a total of 23,340 workers were scheduled to go to Malaysia in two phases, while only 198 workers have been recruited in the last three months.

The minister also the United Arab Emirate will also start taking Bangladeshis soon.

Ends/AMA/17/07/13