Tk 855cr Proposed for Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry in FY26 Budget
An allocation of Taka 855 crore has been made for the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry in the proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year (FY). Of the proposed Taka 855 crore, Taka 451 was allocated for operating task and Taka 404 for the Annual Development Plan of the ministry. The ministry saw Taka 285 crore less budget allocation than the revised budget of 2024-25 fiscal that was Taka 1,140 crore. The proposed budget of the fiscal 2024-25 for the Expatriate' Welfare, Overseas Employment Ministry was Taka 1,217 crore. Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed made the announcement today while unveiling the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2025-26 in a pre-recorded broadcast on Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar. To increase the number of workers going abroad, he said the government is planning to strengthen the activities of 70 Technical Training Centers (TTCs) at the district level as well as 40 TTCs at the upazila level along with building 50 new TTCs in additional 50 upazilas.
In many developed countries, the adviser said the demand for caregivers is increasing steadily. "By developing skilled human resources in this sector to meet the global demand, we can expand opportunities for overseas employment and unlock new avenues for earning foreign remittances," he said adding that initiatives have been taken to provide necessary training for caregivers. Besides, he said launching PhD courses in nursing education and establishing an international standard training center for nursing educators are being considered. The adviser said that initiatives had been taken to digitalize the departure process of the workers.
"Arrangements have already been made to provide exit clearance in six districts and this facility will be extended to all the districts in phases," he said. In addition, Ahmed said that a digital system would be introduced for submitting and redressing the complaints of the deceived workers. "Initiatives will be taken to decentralize the power of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the district level, including delegating the power of dispute resolution officer to the investigating officer and forming a complaint management cell," said the adviser. Regarding duty, the adviser said that import value of any imported consignment not exceeding Taka 2 thousand of duty evasion is now exempted from imposition of duty. "This minimum value limit has been increased to Taka 4 thousand for both cases. Travelers including expatriate remittance earners shall get substantial relief with this initiative," he said.
