The restriction will be applicable to job seekers who migrate abroad without prior confirmation of a job.

Under the provision of the individual free visa, a citizen of the country concerned can sponsor a person by showing requirements for his individual purposes and by sending a visa advice notice to the embassy of his country in Bangladesh.

The job seeker then obtains permission for entering into the sponsor's country with clearance from the ministry of expatriates' welfare.

Over 20 per cent of some 1.25 lakh Bangladeshis migrating to Saudi Arabia annually go on an individual visa, sources said.

"Sponsors often leave the sponsored people without any job and many people going abroad on such individual visas stay without any job for several months and create social problems there," said a high official at the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

"The cases of visa advice are being thoroughly verified to check any fraudulent practices," he said, adding, "A person will not get clearance for leaving the country on an individual free visa unless he shows confirmation of a specific job there."

However, the individual visa advice attested by the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia will not come under this restriction, he said.

The State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare Mohammad Quamrul Islam said, "The restriction is to ensure that none should go abroad without confirmation of job."

Asked about the duration of the restriction, the minister said, "I will go to Saudi Arabia on Monday for a week-long visit and observe the situation there. I will take a decision after returning home."

The minister will meet the labour minister in Saudi Arabia and discuss increasing manpower export there.

Saudi Arabia is the largest manpower market for Bangladesh, with over 15 lakh Bangladeshis now working there.

Meanwhile, manpower exporters fear the move will have a negative impact on manpower exports from the country, resulting in a decline in the flow of remittances.