For too long, Bangladesh’s economy has leaned on the remittances of workers sent abroad, often into conditions that human rights groups describe as modern-day slavery. In Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, migrant laborers routinely face wage theft, confiscated passports, unsafe housing, and outright abuse.
The latest Daily Star report makes clear that the labour market for Bangladeshis abroad is shrinking, with the UAE, Malaysia, Oman, and Bahrain all curbing recruitment. Rather than scrambling to reopen doors to these exploitative markets, Bangladesh’s leaders should seize the moment to reimagine their development strategy.
The solution lies not in shipping workers overseas, but in creating dignified employment at home. Building a more industrially diverse economy, investing in skills, and strengthening domestic sectors like agriculture, green energy, and services will reduce dependence on foreign remittances. For a nation of 170 million, true progress must mean opportunity within its own borders.