State minister quotes Saudi envoy on recruitment costs; draws protests

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

State Minister Md Nurul Haque Nur questioned why Bangladeshi migrant workers continue to pay recruitment fees despite the Saudi ambassador’s claim that Saudi sponsors cover all hiring expenses, sparking protests from recruiting agencies. In response, the government pledged to crack down on recruitment malpractices and hold talks with agency owners to reduce costs and set fixed fees, aiming to improve transparency for workers migrating to the Gulf.

State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Nurul Haque Nur’s recent remarks quoting Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah ibn Dhafer ibn Ubayya about recruitment costs for Bangladeshi migrant workers sparked protests from recruiting agencies during a meeting in Dhaka on Monday.

At the event held at the BIAM Foundation Auditorium, the Saudi envoy reportedly stated that employers in Saudi Arabia, known as kafeels or sponsors, bear all expenses for hiring Bangladeshi workers, including airfare. This prompted Md Nurul Haque Nur to question why Bangladeshi migrant workers still incur recruitment fees, seemingly contradicting the ambassador’s claim.

“The ambassador revealed something to us today that we did not know. He said the kafeel there pays for everything, including airfare, to hire workers from Bangladesh. Then why do our people pay money to go to Saudi Arabia?” Md Nurul said during the discussion.

The statement drew immediate criticism from representatives of recruiting agencies present at the gathering, who responded by chanting “fake, fake” in protest.

In an effort to ease tensions, the state minister acknowledged that migrant workers from Bangladesh may still face visa-related costs in some cases, especially when competing against workers from other countries such as India and Pakistan.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, who chaired the meeting as chief guest, emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing irregularities in the recruitment process. He pledged to take stringent measures against syndicates and malpractice within the sector.

Minister Choudhury also announced plans to meet with recruiting agency owners within the next two days. The discussions will focus on reducing migration expenses and establishing fixed fees for medical examinations to prevent overcharging of prospective workers.

The controversy highlights ongoing concerns over the recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers heading abroad, particularly to the Gulf region. The government’s intervention aims to increase transparency and fairness in the sector, which is a significant source of foreign employment and remittances for Bangladesh.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.