EMPLOYMENT prospects, especially for Bangladeshis, in the country have shrunk since last July as the issuance of fresh visas to Bangladeshis has almost been halted. Young Bangladeshi engineers, who despite the declining numbers, say the situation is not all gloom and doom for them and that they would still like to start their careers in the Kingdom. Abdullah Abdul Momen Khan came to Saudi Arabia when he was one year old. He completed his secondary education at the Bangladesh International School and College, Jeddah, and went on to graduate in electronic engineering from the Islamic University of Technology in Bangladesh. He has now come back to the Kingdom and has joined a private company. “I came back to this country because I'm in love with it. Saudi Arabia is magnificent in many ways. So much can be learned from the people here, their Islamic heritage and culture. There is a distinct peace and quietness in every city here, something which is very hard to find elsewhere,” said Khan. Asked what makes the Kingdom his top favorite, Khan says: “It is the country's high social and economic security system, pollution-free environment, and more importantly, the freedom to learn and follow Islam.” According to statistics of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), some 20,980 Bangladeshis found jobs in Saudi Arabia in the July-October period last year against 75,663 in the same period of 2007. The BMET data also showed that some 1,624 Bangladeshis found jobs in Saudi Arabia during November 1-26 against 23,432 who found jobs in the same period in 2007. The exact number of Bangladeshi engineers working in the Kingdom is not known. Mohammed Kaisarul Islam, Bangladeshi Labor Consul, said: “Around a few thousand engineers are working in the Kingdom, in both private and public sector companies, such as, the Saudi Binladin Group, Saudi Electricity Company, Lubref, Royal Commission, and other engineering and construction companies. They are sincere and respected workers.” Faruk Ahmed, another young Bangladeshi engineer in Jeddah, came to the Kingdom with his parents at the age of 10. After completing his schooling here, he went to Hungary to pursue a degree in electrical engineering and Informatics from the Technical University of Budapest. He says: “I have traveled to over 31 countries in search of a good job. But now I have realized that Saudi Arabia is the only country where I can spend a good life. I have spent my childhood here and I know the place better than any other country. Moreover, with no taxes, it is much easier to save some money,” Ahmed said. He said opportunities in the job sector in the Kingdom are very bright. “The best part is that we can contribute our skills to this country while also honing them,” he added. “Saudi Arabia is a holy place for all Muslims and Muslims from all over the world will be glad of any opportunity to work here,” said Mohammed Zaman, a Bangladeshi national who was born in the Kingdom, did his schooling here, graduated as an architecture engineer from England, and has returned here to work. “The Kingdom is an attractive place to work. The country's social and economic stability, and its security encourage many to work here. There is a unique continuity of work with no strikes or other such stoppages,” said Zaman. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in January urged the Saudi government to increase its development assistance to Bangladesh and recruit more human resources from the country. According to reports, she suggested to Saudi Ambassador in Dhaka, Abdullah Nasir-Al Bossairy, that both skilled and unskilled manpower from Bangladesh, particularly engineers, doctors and nurses, be recruited to work the Kingdom. Approximately 1.2 million Bangladeshis currently work in Saudi Arabia.
