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A growing number of people in Sirajganj are heading abroad in search of jobs as limited employment opportunities and uncertain incomes at home push both men and women toward overseas employment.
Thousands of residents from different upazilas of the district leave the country every year for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and other Middle Eastern countries. Many are also seeking opportunities in Europe and elsewhere, hoping to improve their financial condition.
The money sent home by migrant workers is not only improving their families’ living standards but also contributing significantly to Sirajganj’s local economy. Remittances are driving spending in local markets, house construction, land transactions, businesses and various forms of investment.
According to the Sirajganj District Employment and Manpower Office, 37,803 people registered for legal overseas employment between January 2021 and December 2025. More than 7,000 people on average registered each year during the period, with interest in overseas jobs rising over time.
In 2025 alone, 10,382 people from Sirajganj applied to go abroad for employment. Of them, 10,202 were men and 180 were women. During the same year, 10,494 people left the district for jobs in the Middle East and other countries, including 10,057 men and 437 women.
Officials and people involved in overseas employment attribute the growing trend to limited job opportunities in rural areas, uncertainty in agriculture-based incomes, rising demand for jobs among young people and comparatively higher earning opportunities abroad.
The economic impact of migration is also visible at the household level. Migrant workers use their earnings to build houses, purchase land, start businesses and meet expenses related to education, healthcare and daily living.
According to Bangladesh Bank data, Sirajganj received $155.10 million in remittances during the 2025-26 fiscal year, equivalent to around Tk1,900 crore. The district received an average of about Tk158 crore in remittances every month.
A significant portion of the money is spent on household consumption, while some is invested in land, housing, shops, transportation, agriculture and other sectors. As a result, remittances are circulating through different layers of the local economy.
However, overseas migration also carries significant risks. Many prospective migrants fall victim to brokers who demand large sums of money by promising good jobs, high salaries and better living conditions.
A returnee migrant, Md Buddhu Sheikh, said overseas employment does not always bring the expected benefits.
“While many people find good jobs and earn well abroad, others face serious difficulties. The risk of fraud is particularly high when people rely on brokers,” he said.
Another returnee, Md Babu Mala, said brokers often collect large amounts of money by promising lucrative jobs and better living conditions.
“Some people arrange the money through bank or NGO loans or by selling land and other assets. But after reaching the destination country, they sometimes find that the promised job does not exist, the salary is much lower or the living conditions are extremely poor,” he said.
Some migrants also travel on visit visas or through other inappropriate arrangements instead of obtaining valid employment visas, later becoming entangled in legal problems and facing further financial hardship.
Officials say dependence on brokers remains one of the biggest obstacles to safe migration in Sirajganj. Many people in remote areas lack adequate information about official migration procedures and therefore rely on local intermediaries.
Experts advise prospective migrants to verify job offers, employers, salaries, working hours, accommodation and visa status before paying any money. They also recommend completing the process through government-approved recruiting agencies.
Sirajganj District Employment and Manpower Office Assistant Director Md Abdul Hannan said every registered migrant worker contributes to the district and the national economy through remittances.
“Those who go abroad after completing registration are each a remittance warrior. The district Employment and Manpower Office is working to provide necessary assistance and advice to ensure safe migration,” he said.
He urged prospective migrants not to depend on brokers and instead follow official procedures.
“Proper training, documentation and verification of job information before going abroad can significantly reduce the risk of fraud,” he said.
With employment opportunities limited and more young people seeking work abroad, remittances have emerged as one of the key drivers of Sirajganj’s economy. The nearly Tk1,900 crore received in remittances in FY2025-26 highlights the growing importance of overseas workers to the district.
However, stakeholders say sustainable benefits from overseas employment will require greater emphasis on skilled-worker training, safe migration, accurate information and action against fraudulent brokers. Opportunities should also be created for returnee migrants to reintegrate and invest in the local economy.
If safe and legal migration can be ensured, Sirajganj’s overseas workers could become a major force behind the district’s economic transformation. For prospective migrants, verifying information, completing government registration and following legal procedures remain the best safeguards against fraud.
