What is BMET?
The Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) is a government agency under the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh. Established under the Emigration Ordinance 1982, BMET is the primary regulatory and record-keeping body for Bangladesh's overseas employment sector.
BMET's core functions relevant to overseas workers include: registering workers going abroad, issuing the Smart Card pre-departure clearance, licensing recruiting agencies (BAIRA members operate under BMET-granted licences), maintaining a database of overseas Bangladeshi workers, and mediating disputes between workers and agencies.
Why BMET Clearance is Mandatory
Under the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act 2013, no Bangladeshi worker may depart Bangladesh for employment abroad without BMET Smart Card clearance. This applies to Ukraine workers the same as any other destination. Departing without BMET clearance is a violation of Bangladeshi law and can result in:
- Detention at the departure airport
- Administrative penalties on return
- Difficulty re-registering for overseas employment in the future
- Loss of legal protections as an overseas worker (insurance, welfare schemes)
BMET clearance also registers the worker in a government database. If the worker faces exploitation, non-payment, or emergency abroad, this registration provides a legal basis for consular intervention.
BMET Smart Card Clearance — What You Need
To obtain BMET Smart Card clearance for Ukraine employment, you must have the following completed first:
The Smart Card Process
The Smart Card is a biometric card issued by BMET containing the worker's identity and employment data. The airport departure system checks for Smart Card clearance before allowing boarding. The process:
- Register online at BMET e-portal (smartcard.bmet.gov.bd) or in person at a BMET office
- Submit all required documents (originals and copies)
- Biometric data collection (photo, fingerprints)
- Processing: 3–5 business days from complete submission
- Collect Smart Card — carry this to the airport on departure
BMET Offices for Ukraine Applicants
BMET Cannot Verify Your Ukrainian Work Permit
BMET checks whether a document is present but does not independently verify Ukrainian government databases. A fraudulent Ukrainian work permit can pass the BMET process if the physical document looks convincing — only to be exposed at the Ukrainian border or embassy. This is why you should verify your work permit through Kyiv Pathway's verification service before submitting to BMET, not after.