Some 78,043 Bangladeshi migrant workers returned home from 26 countries amid the coronavirus pandemic — between April 1 and August 22, according to data of expatriates’ welfare ministry.
Among the returnees, 4,732 are female migrant workers, according to the data the ministry provided to media today.
Many of the workers returned home after losing their jobs in the host countries, while many others returned on completion of their stipulated job contracts, said the ministry data.
The data was prepared by the expatriates’ welfare desk set under the ministry at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The countries from where the migrant workers returned include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Maldives, Singapore and Malaysia.
Those who returned from UAE were sent back by their employers or companies because of shrinking job opportunities amid the pandemic, the data said.
However, the workers said the companies promised to re-hire them once the situation turns normal, while some also mentioned that they came home on vacation, said the ministry data.
On the other hand, the Saudi returnees came home with obtaining “out-pass”, it said.
