‘Probashi card’ to be launched soon: Expatriate welfare minister

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury on Saturday announced that the government will soon introduce a ‘Probashi Card’ for Bangladeshi migrant workers in line with its election manifesto commitments.

He also revealed that initiatives are underway to regularise the status of around 25,000 undocumented Bangladeshis currently living in Spain.

Speaking to journalists at Sylhet Circuit House, according to a handout from the Press Information Department, the minister said the government has undertaken a 180-day priority programme under the Prime Minister’s directives to reopen closed labour markets.

Efforts are focused particularly on countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, where labour migration has been suspended.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the market for essential commodities remains stable and expressed optimism that the situation would continue in the coming days.

Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury noted that flooding in the Sylhet region is largely caused by the inflow of water from across the border.

Acknowledging the challenge of keeping the area flood-free, he said the government remains confident in its ability to address the issue.

Earlier, the ministers held a meeting with officials from various government departments in Sylhet to review ongoing development activities in the district.