Dhaka, Feb. 3 -- Overseas employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers saw a notable slowdown in January 2026, with the number of outbound workers dropping by just over 21 percent from the previous month, according to official statistics.

Data from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) show that 94,189 Bangladeshis went abroad for work in January, down from 119,389 in December 2025. The month-on-month decline amounts to 25,200 workers, representing a fall of about 21.1 percent.

Officials and industry insiders said the sharp contrast between the two months largely reflects seasonal factors. December's figure was boosted by year-end processing of pending applications and clearances, while January marked a return to mo...