An opinion article published on July 19, 2026, highlights Bangladesh’s persistent struggle to eliminate brokers from the overseas employment process. Despite having formal institutions such as BMET, BOESL, DEMO offices, technical training centers, and digital tools like the OIM-BMET platform and Ami Probashi app, the system remains inaccessible to many rural job seekers. The article notes that in 2023, over 1.1 million workers went abroad, but only 1.3 percent used the state recruiting agency BOESL, reflecting a major gap between policy and field reality.

The author cites findings from the World Bank, CPD, and ITUC showing that weak data integration, limited outreach, and informal recruitment practices allow brokers to dominate the process, often charging excessive fees and exploiting workers. To address this, the article proposes embassy-based Labor Market Development Cells, one-stop support for foreign employers, performance-based incentives for officials, and integrated upazila-level assistance centers combining existing agencies.

It further calls for transparent cost disclosure, verified contracts, expanded training linked to real labor demand, and direct access to low-interest loans. The author argues that investing a small portion of remittance income in these reforms would strengthen worker safety and national economic stability.