In a strategic push to elevate the quality of its overseas workforce, Bangladesh Bank has signed an agreement with the Probashi Kallyan Bank (PKB) to provide loans of up to 1 million BDT (approximately £6,200) for prospective migrants seeking foreign language training. Backed by a substantial 1,000-crore BDT fund allocated by the central bank, the scheme offers credit at an annual interest rate of 9 per cent to help workers acquire essential linguistic skills required for high-value overseas labour markets.
The initiative arrives on the heels of a record-breaking financial year 2025–26, during which expatriate workers remitted a historic $35.58 billion to Bangladesh. Despite this massive inflow, the vast majority of Bangladeshi migrants remain classified as low-skilled labourers, limiting their earning potential and leaving them vulnerable in host nations. Government officials argue that overcoming the language barrier is the single most critical step towards securing positions in non-traditional, higher-paying labour markets such as Japan and South Korea.
Arif Hossain, a spokesperson for Bangladesh Bank, confirmed the partnership, stating that the allocated funds will directly enable PKB to finance basic language acquisition for outbound workers targeting key international destinations.
Despite the initiative’s ambition, independent economists and migration experts have raised concerns regarding the scale and management of the loans. M S Shekil Chowdhury, Chairperson of the Centre for NRB, voiced skepticism over the generous ceiling of the financial aid. He questioned why language tuition alone would require up to 1 million BDT, noting that the entire migration process often costs less. He cautioned that setting such a high upper limit risks financial exploitation, as individuals might claim the maximum allocation unnecessarily, and urged authorities to align the cap with realistic expenses.
In response to these worries, the Probashi Kallyan Bank assured that strict safeguards have been embedded into the disbursement system. Wahida Begum, Managing Director of PKB, explained that collateral-free loans up to the maximum limit will be offered for destinations like Japan. Crucially, the funds will not be transferred directly to the applicants’ personal bank accounts. Instead, the bank will pay the tuition fees directly to accredited language institutions where the candidates are enrolled. Beyond language programmes, PKB retains the flexibility to utilise this dedicated fund under its institutional guidelines to further strengthen the broader migration sector.
