Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam yesterday said trained workers would be sent to Japan soon, opening up scopes for Bangladeshi workers.

“Japan has showed interest in recruiting skilled workers from Bangladesh and a MoU will be signed between Bangladesh and Japan within a few days,” the minister told a press conference at the ministry's conference room on the eve of International Migrants Day 2017 to be observed today.

A permanent Japanese language training centre was also inaugurated at the ministry.

Nurul Islam said some 9.73 lakh Bangladeshi workers including some 1.18 lakh female workers got employment opportunities in various countries this year.

The minister said training is being imparted to the aspirant overseas job seekers of 22 out of 42 districts. Such training would also be expanded soon to 20 other districts.

He also said his ministry has taken elaborate programmes to celebrate this year's International Migrants Day.

Rallies and discussions would be held in every district marking the day.

A programme is scheduled to be held at the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the morning today.