Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia today signed a landmark agreement on worker recruitment in Riyadh — the first of its kind between the two countries.

The agreement was signed by Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh, and Engineer Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development of Saudi Arabia.

This marks the first formal agreement on the recruitment of general workers in the 50-year history of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

Since 1976, Saudi Arabia has remained the largest labor market for Bangladeshi workers, although no formal recruitment framework existed for general workers until now.

Earlier, the two countries signed two specific agreements — one on the recruitment of domestic workers in 2015 and another on skill verification in 2022.

The new agreement is expected to open broader opportunities for the recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers across various professions in Saudi Arabia.

It will also ensure better protection of the rights and interests of both workers and employers, further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two brotherly nations.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Asif Nazrul held a bilateral meeting with Minister Al-Rajhi.

During the meeting, Nazrul emphasized the need for ensuring transparency and fairness in the recruitment process, employer responsibility for Aqama renewal, and timely exit visas for workers wishing to return home.

In response, the Saudi minister directed the relevant authorities to take prompt measures on these matters and urged Bangladesh to take necessary steps to ensure safe and orderly migration.

The two sides also discussed enhancing cooperation in recruiting and training skilled workers, ensuring the welfare and protection of expatriate workers, and expanding mutual collaboration in the labor sector.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md Delwar Hossain, Deputy Chief of Mission S M Nazmul Hasan, and Labour Counsellor Muhammad Rezae Rabbi, along with senior officials from both sides, were present at the signing ceremony.