Oman government has opened its labour market in twelve categories including physician, nurse and teachers, said State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury on Tuesday.

"Oman has decided to legalise 96,000 Bangladesh expatriates who are living in Oman illegally and the government of Oman is thinking about waiving the fines of the illegal expatriates living in the country," he said.

The minister came up with the information while talking to reporters after a meeting with the Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman Abdul Ghaffar Bin Abdul Karim Al-Bulushi at the Secretariat. Currently, the skilled manpower are getting visas but a proposal will be placed to the working committee to recruit unskilled manpower, he said. Besides, a brief discussion on dedicating a Technical Training Centre (TTC) to Oman was held, he said adding "We want to train workers in one of the TTC's as per their demand."

Apart from the cordial relations between the two friendly countries, various issues related to bilateral interests including the economic progress of Bangladesh were discussed during the meeting. A joint working group meeting between the two countries is likely to be held soon.