The online registration of overseas jobseekers will start from September 22 and continue until October 10, according to the Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
The minister, Khandaker Musharraf Hossain, made the announcement to journalists at his office yesterday, saying the registration will take place in the Information and Service Centres of all unions, towns and municipalities across the country.
Details of the aspirant jobseekers will be held on a database which, after October 10, wouldn’t be updated for another two years.
“No more registration drives will be conducted in the next two years. However, those who come of age (become 18 years old) during this time will be able to register,” he said.
Earlier, the ministry had registered over 1.4 million workers following an agreement between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur to send Bangladeshis to work in the Malaysian plantation sector.
When asked about the necessity of a new registration drive, the minister said it was needed since the previous one was prepared for the plantation sector only, but not for other sectors.
“This new database will incorporate information of all candidates who can register for any country of their choosing and any job they have in mind. It will be comprehensive.
“Through this, we are going to streamline the whole process of emigration and reduce related costs,” Musharraf added.
In order to register online, a candidate will have to pay Tk150 toTk250 as a registration fee and Tk100 for the filling in of the form. Registrations will take place between 9am and 5pm each day.
Sources said the registration drive will start with the Dhaka and Barisal divisions, followed by other divisions. In Dhaka and Barisal, this will take place between September 22 and 28.
Registrations in Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet divisions will be held between September 28 and October 4, and in Khulna and Chittagong divisions between October 4 and 10.
