Riyadh, Oct 06 (V7N) – In a historic development, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have signed a bilateral agreement on worker recruitment, marking the first formal accord on general employment in the 50-year history of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The agreement was signed in Riyadh on Monday (October 6) by Dr. Asif Nazrul, Advisor to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Engineer Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Razi, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.

Officials described the accord as a new milestone in expanding Bangladesh’s labor market and strengthening migration governance between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia has been the largest destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers since 1976, yet until now, there had been no formal agreement on general worker recruitment. Earlier, two specialized pacts were signed — one on domestic worker recruitment in 2015, and another on skill verification in 2022.

Officials expect that the new agreement will increase employment opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers across various sectors in Saudi Arabia, while ensuring better protection of rights for both workers and employers. The move is also seen as a step forward in deepening bilateral ties between Dhaka and Riyadh.

Before the signing ceremony, a bilateral meeting was held between Dr. Asif Nazrul and Minister Al-Razi. During the discussion, the Bangladeshi adviser emphasized the importance of transparent recruitment processes, timely Iqama renewals, and facilitating exit visas for workers wishing to return home.

In response, the Saudi minister instructed relevant authorities to take immediate steps to address these concerns and urged Bangladesh to continue promoting safe and orderly migration.

The meeting also focused on enhancing cooperation in training skilled workers and ensuring the welfare and safety of Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia.

Present at the signing ceremony were Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md. Delwar Hossain, Deputy Head of Mission SM Nazmul Hasan, Labor Counselor Muhammad Rezae Rabbi, and senior officials from both sides.

END/SMA/AJ