The country is expected to send more than 1.0 million workers abroad this year, said Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE) Minister Imran Ahmad at an award distribution ceremony in the city on Thursday.
He also expressed hope that the remittance inflow to the country would remain steady in the coming months also like in the past three months.
The minister was speaking at the 7th BRAC Migration Media Award ceremony, organised by BRAC.
BRAC awarded 16 journalists, including Arafat Ara, staff reporter of The Financial Express, this year. Imran Ahmad handed over crests and prize money to the winners.
In his speech, the minister also said new job avenues have been created in different markets recently. Malaysia has reopened its door for the recruitment of workers. If sending of workers to the Southeast Asian nation starts in full swing, the number of Bangladeshi expatriates would increase further.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Greece and Bangladesh to hire manpower, while there is an opportunity to sign deals with Italy, Croatia, and Malta gradually, he added.
Imran Ahmad stressed the need for providing better services to migrant workers at every stage, as they are contributing to the country's economy in many ways.
He also urged the journalists to focus on fair and impartial reporting for the welfare of the migration sector.
Md Shahidul Alam, Director General of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh, and Head of Migration Programme Shariful Hasan were present at the event, among others.
BRAC launched the Migration Media Award in 2015 for giving recognition to journalism in the migration sector.
