Saudi Arabia may recruit skilled Bangladeshi nurses

Saudi Arabia is considering hiring skilled and trained nurses from Bangladesh, with an initial plan to recruit 100 nurses in collaboration with Bangladesh's Unique Group.

"The initiative is tailored to meet Saudi healthcare standards," said Dr Khalid Moghem Alharbi, a Saudi entrepreneur, healthcare specialist, and professor at Taibah University in Madinah, at a seminar in Dhaka on Monday.

At the seminar titled "Bangladesh Healthcare Prospect in the Saudi Arabian Employment Market," Dr Alharbi added, "If Bangladesh can supply nurses and caregivers meeting Saudi requirements, the country's remittance earnings could see a notable boost."

The event was organised by the newly formed Saudi Arabia Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SABCCI) and chaired by its president, Ashraful Haq Chowdhury.

Dr Md Nazrul Islam, secretary (Bilateral) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended as chief guest, while Rehana Yasmin, additional secretary of the Technical and Madrasah Education Division under the Ministry of Education, was present as special guest.

Prominent business leaders, including Uzma Chowdhury, director of PRAN-RFL Group, and Sk Nasir Uddin, chairman of Akij Group, discussed broader bilateral investment opportunities.

At the event, three keynote presentations were delivered on Bangladesh's nursing education system and the role of private sector initiatives -- by Uzma Chowdhury; Dr Md Afiquor Rahman, advisor at Ad-din Hospital; and Rezvi Newaz, special correspondent at Channel i.

Private sector representatives stressed the urgent need to modernise the country's nursing curriculum to meet Middle Eastern labour market demands.

The seminar highlighted that Bangladesh currently has over 0.1 million trained nurses, with more than 60,000 unemployed.

Dr Alharbi noted that with Saudi-standard training, a significant portion of these nurses could secure jobs in the kingdom.

Participants also raised concerns over Bangladesh's continued use of a three-year nursing diploma programme.

Government officials responded that the curriculum is aligned with international standards but assured cooperation in modifying it to better match Middle Eastern market needs.

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