Sources at the Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment told The Daily Star that the low-level workers would be affected by the Omani decision. Around 1.15 lakh Bangladeshis live in Oman of whom only a few holds managerial posts or own business establishments.

Oman is trying to ensure top jobs for its citizens, according to sources.

Bangladesh has asked Oman to ensure that those returning will be able to be repatriated with funds and movable property.

A high-powered committee led by Secretary of the ministry Dalil Uddin Mondal is also working to arrange smooth repatriation of the returnees.

Oman has stopped recruiting Bangladeshi workers for several years following an altercation between Bangladesh ambassador and an Omani high police official during the mid-1990s.

However, it started recruiting again in agriculture, fisheries and textile sectors two years back. Around 5,000 Bangladeshis have been employed in those sectors since then, claimed a high official of the ministry.

Meantime, around 20,000 Bangladeshis living in South Korea without valid documents are going to be deported as Seoul has gone strict on illegal foreign workers. There are more than 1.30 lakh Bangladeshis in Korea.