Bangladesh Overseas Jobs Hit Five-Year Low: 9.69 Lakh in FY26

Dhaka, August 5, 2026 — The number of Bangladeshis leaving for overseas jobs fell to a five-year low in fiscal year 2025-26 as demand from the Middle East weakened amid uncertainty following the US-Israel war on Iran — raising concerns about the trajectory of remittance inflows that have been a critical buffer for the economy.

More than 9.69 lakh people left Bangladesh for overseas jobs during the last fiscal year, down 5 percent from a year earlier, according to data from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). The decline marks the second consecutive year of falling overseas employment, reversing the record-breaking trend that saw nearly 12 lakh Bangladeshis sent abroad in FY2024.

📊 The Decline in Numbers

• 👥 FY26 overseas jobs: 9.69 lakh (down 5% YoY) — 5-year low
• 📈 FY24 record: ~12 lakh (highest ever)
• 🌏 Middle East share: ~75% of all overseas employment
• 👥 Bangladeshis in Middle East: 60-70 lakh (many without permanent jobs)
• 💰 FY26 remittances: Record $35+ billion
• 📉 July remittances: Below $3 billion (2nd consecutive month)
• 📊 FY15-FY25 total: 86+ lakh people left for overseas jobs

The number of Bangladeshis taking up jobs overseas has been declining over the past two years. The weak outlook for the current fiscal year has also raised concerns about a slowdown in remittance inflows, which have helped shield the economy from external shocks in recent years.

🚢 War Disrupts Middle East Labour Market

"We have been seeing a slowdown in the outflow since March because of the war and the disruption of flights to Middle Eastern destinations," said Shariful Hasan, associate director of the migration programme and youth platform at BRAC. He said around 1 lakh people had been going abroad for jobs each month in recent years. That flow has now been affected.

The Middle East accounted for three-quarters of all overseas employment between FY2015 and FY2025. "The region has been the main source of jobs for Bangladesh's migrant workers and of remittance inflows for the last four decades," said Shariful. "However, the war-induced uncertainty has affected investment and employment in the major destination countries — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates."

There are 60-70 lakh Bangladeshi nationals working in the region, and a large proportion of them do not have permanent jobs, he added. "The Iran war has shaken the confidence of many foreign investors in Qatar and Dubai," he said. "What we are seeing is that many workers are returning. If the war continues, the impact will be more visible."

💰 Remittance Impact

Bangladesh received a record of more than $35 billion in remittances in FY2025-26. In July, remittance inflows rose 15 percent from a year earlier but remained below $3 billion for the second consecutive month, according to Bangladesh Bank data. The dip below the $3 billion threshold — which had been consistently exceeded between December 2025 and May 2026 — suggests that the war's impact on remittance flows is beginning to materialise.

"If we cannot make a breakthrough in creating alternative employment destinations, there will be an impact on remittance," Shariful warned. The connection between overseas employment and remittance is direct: fewer new workers going abroad means fewer future remittance senders, while returning workers represent an immediate reduction in remittance inflows.

🌏 Malaysia: Potential Alternative Market

Ali Haider Chowdhury, a former secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira), said Saudi Arabia is the only market currently recruiting Bangladeshi workers. "The rest of the destinations are virtually closed," he said. "Good news is that the opportunity for migrant workers in Malaysia is going to open. If that happens, more jobs will be created."

Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, proprietor of recruiting agency Sadia International, said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit has created an opportunity to reopen the Malaysian labour market. There is a demand for 2-3 lakh workers in the Southeast Asian country. Recruitment could begin as early as September, he added.

🌏 Eastern Europe and Beyond

Noman, also a former secretary general of Baira, said there is also demand for workers in Eastern Europe, but Bangladesh faces problems with visa processing. "It takes up to five months for visa issuance. The foreign affairs ministry should look into this. Jobs for migrant workers will increase if the visa process is made easy," he said.

"The Middle East as a traditional market will remain. We need to explore Eastern Europe, Far East, and Pacific countries such as New Zealand," he said. "We have plenty of job markets. But we should create quality workers. We have to modernise training facilities and establish labs so that workers can learn practically." He urged the government to invest in the sector.

📋 Strategic Context for Bangladesh

The five-year low in overseas employment comes at a critical moment for Bangladesh's macroeconomic stability. Remittance inflows of $35+ billion in FY26 were the single largest source of foreign exchange earnings, exceeding both merchandise exports and foreign aid. The Bangladesh Bank's ability to rebuild reserves to $31.60 billion was directly enabled by strong remittance inflows — and the taka's relative stability (only 0.59 percent depreciation) would not have been possible without them.

If the Iran war continues and Middle East labour demand remains suppressed, the combination of fewer new migrants, returning workers, and potentially lower remittance per worker could create a meaningful drag on Bangladesh's balance of payments. The Malaysia market reopening offers some hope, but 2-3 lakh workers cannot replace the 12 lakh annual flow that was achieved in FY2024. Diversifying to Eastern Europe and other markets is the right strategic direction, but the five-month visa processing delay highlights the bureaucratic bottlenecks that prevent Bangladesh from quickly shifting its labour export strategy when traditional markets close.