Kuwait keen to hire more female domestic aides from Bangladesh: home advisor

The advisor urges the Middle Eastern country to further its support for Rohingya refugees if the US stops funding

Kuwait has expressed interest in recruiting more female domestic workers from Bangladesh, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said.

During a meeting with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bangladesh Ali Tunyan Abdul Wahab Hamadah on Monday afternoon, he said: “I also request them to take in more male workers along with women.”

A statement from the home ministry said the envoy pledged to import more manpower from Bangladesh.

The advisor said, “Historically, Bangladesh and Kuwait have a deep friendship. Currently, nearly 280,000 Bangladeshis are employed in Kuwait.”

At the meeting, he also voiced concerns over the possibility of the United States withdrawing aid for Rohingya refugees.

Jahangir told the ambassador, “Kuwait is a key development partner of Bangladesh. If the United States stops its funding, Kuwait should increase its support for Rohingya development and resettlement.”

In response, the envoy said Kuwait has always stood by Bangladesh as a Muslim and Asian ally and would continue to do so.

He added that the country had helped raise the Rohingya issue in the international arena in 2017, and this cooperation will continue in the future.

The ambassador also highlighted Bangladesh’s assistance in Kuwait’s post-war rehabilitation and mine clearance following the Iraq-Kuwait conflict.

He recalled that 270 Bangladeshi soldiers were killed and 56 injured in landmine removal operations.

Abdul Wahab pointed out that no formal agreement exists between Bangladesh and Kuwait on import-export of manpower.

“Such an agreement needs to be finalised soon.”

According to the statement, the meeting covered discussions on manpower exports, military and security cooperation, Rohingya assistance, and enhancing the capacity of law-enforcing agencies.

When the ambassador inquired about Bangladesh’s current law and order situation, the advisor said it has improved notably compared to the period before Aug 5, 2024.