Qatar Seeks to Recruit Bangladeshi Workers in Four Sectors

Qatar has expressed a keen interest in recruiting workers in four key technical sectors—electrician, plumber, AC technician, and welding—directly from five designated Technical Training Centers (TTCs) in Bangladesh.

The interest was conveyed by Qatari Labor Minister Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri during a bilateral meeting with Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury on Monday (18 May) at the ministry’s conference room in Dhaka.

Welcoming Dr. Ali at the commencement of the Bangladesh-Qatar Joint Committee meeting, Ariful Haque extended his sincere gratitude to the visiting minister.

The Minister noted that the fraternal relationship between the two nations has progressed significantly over the past few decades. He expressed deep appreciation for the Qatar government's various initiatives aimed at resolving grievances and ensuring the welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates.

In particular, the Expatriate Welfare Minister conveyed profound gratitude on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh to the Amir of Qatar for setting a unique humanitarian example by sending an air ambulance for the emergency medical treatment of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Describing Qatar as a highly attractive labor market for Bangladeshi workers, Ariful Haque stated that over 400,000 Bangladeshi nationals are currently contributing to Qatar’s development and progress with skill, honesty, and dedication.

Pointing out that 107,598 Bangladeshi workers migrated to Qatar in 2023, he expressed optimism that the Doha authorities would double this intake in the current year.

Highlighting infrastructure constraints, the Minister noted that the single existing Qatari Visa and Medical Center in Dhaka is insufficient to meet demand. He formally requested the Qatari Labor Minister to set up visa and medical processing centers across all eight divisional headquarters of Bangladesh to expedite the deployment process.

He further highlighted that the ministry, through its 110 Technical Training Centers, offers high-quality training across 55 trades tailored for foreign employment.

During the meeting, State Minister for Expatriate Welfare Md. Nurul Haque urged the visiting Qatari delegation to recruit a substantial number of skilled Bangladeshi professionals—including doctors, engineers, nurses, caregivers, Imams, Muezzins, Khatibs, and Islamic scholars—to participate in Qatar's ongoing development boom.

In response, Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri lauded the efficiency of Bangladeshi workers, noting that approximately 473,000 Bangladeshi laborers are currently employed in Qatar. Among them, 30 percent are engaged in the development sector, while the remainder work in various other professions.

He explicitly underscored Qatar’s interest in hiring electricians, plumbers, AC technicians, and welders from five specific technical training centers in Bangladesh.

Dr. Ali also shared that Qatar has established two dedicated training centers locally to upskill unskilled workers.

Furthermore, regarding the request to expand visa processing facilities to other divisional cities, the Qatari Labor Minister assured that he would personally raise the matter with his country's Ministry of Interior to facilitate implementation.

The Joint Committee meeting was attended, among others, by the Ambassador of Qatar to Bangladesh, Seraya Ali Mahdi Said Al Qahtani; Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Md. Mokhtar Ahmed; Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Dr. Md. Shakirul Islam Khan; and senior officials from the relevant ministries of both countries.