Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam addressed a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy today. Photo : BSS

Dhaka, Feb 18, 2025 (BSS) - The interim government continues talks with the United Arab Emirates to lift the UAE's visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens aiming to send more Bangladeshi migrant workers to the Arab country, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said today.

"If the visa restriction is lifted, we hope many Bangladeshis will get jobs in the UAE," he told a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy here.

He mentioned that Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus raised the visa restriction issue at his meetings with UAE ministers during his recent visit to Dubai to attend the World Governments Summit.

Alam said there was serious discussion on this issue and the talks will continue. The visa restriction issue has turned into a cumulative problem since 2012, he added.

Noting that a comprehensive dialogue is being held with the UAE, he said Bangladesh wants to boost its relations with the UAE.

"If so, we will be able to draw more investment from the UAE. We want the visa restrictions to be lifted soon," he added.

The press secretary said Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqui has already been assigned with this task and talked to several UAE ministers.

Following the comprehensive talks, the UAE are more serious about the relations with Bangladesh, he said, adding, "We hope that the relationship with UAE that reached bottom level (during the Awami League's regime), will elevate to a better level.

"If the visa restriction is lifted, a new door will be opened for Bangladesh to send more manpower to the UAE," Alam said.

Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar was present at the briefing.