WEWB Death Benefit Claim: How to Get the 3 Lakh BDT Grant for a Deceased Migrant Worker

Three Government Payouts Most Families Miss

When a registered Bangladeshi migrant worker dies abroad, the family may have three distinct government-funded claims. The WEWB grants depend on the worker's registration and arrival documents, while insurance eligibility depends on the policy and circumstances of death. Together, the maximum amounts can exceed 13 lakh BDT, but each has its own application process, required documents, and office.

The Immediate Airport Grant: 80,000 BDT

When the body arrives at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Shah Amanat International in Chittagong, or Osmani International in Sylhet, the Wage Earners' Welfare Board maintains a dedicated expatriate welfare desk at each airport.

The family member collecting the body must present three documents: the cancelled passport of the deceased, the official foreign death certificate, and the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) registration card (Smart Card). The WEWB desk pays 80,000 BDT in cash on the same day, directly to the authorized family recipient. This grant covers local transport from the airport and immediate burial expenses.

No prior application is needed. The payment happens at the airport desk upon document verification.

The Death Compensation Grant: 300,000 BDT

The larger payout — 3,00,000 BDT — is a statutory death grant paid by the WEWB to the legal heirs of any documented migrant worker who held a valid BMET Smart Card at the time of departure. This claim must be filed separately at the local District Employment and Manpower Office (DEMO) or directly at the WEWB headquarters in Dhaka.

The application packet requires:

A completed WEWB Death Grant Application Form (available from the WEWB website or the DEMO office). The original cancelled passport and BMET Smart Card of the deceased. The foreign death certificate from the Gulf country. A local death registration certificate issued by the relevant Union Parishad, Pourashava, or City Corporation in Bangladesh. A Warishan Certificate (Heirship Certificate) from the local government body confirming the identity and relationship of all legal heirs. Passport-sized photographs and National Identity cards of all applying heirs. Active bank account details for the primary heir or nominee to receive the electronic fund transfer.

The WEWB processes claims on a rolling basis. Historically, the grant has been paid to families of thousands of workers annually — between 1996 and 2026, the board has disbursed 3 lakh BDT grants continuously. Processing times vary by DEMO office workload, but families should expect several weeks from submission to disbursement.

The Mandatory Insurance Payout: Up to 10 Lakh BDT

Depending on the circumstances of death — particularly workplace accidents — families can claim up to 1,000,000 BDT (10 lakh) under the mandatory insurance coverage that was initiated during the worker's pre-departure clearance process. This insurance was a condition of the worker's BMET registration.

The insurance claim is separate from the WEWB grant and must be filed with the relevant insurance provider, not the WEWB. The DEMO office can direct families to the correct insurer based on the worker's departure records.

The BMET Card Makes or Breaks Every Claim

All three claims require proof that the deceased was a registered migrant worker — which means the BMET Smart Card or registration record. Workers who traveled without BMET registration, whose BMET registration was not valid at the time of departure, or who left through informal channels cannot access these benefits.

If the physical BMET card was lost or is with the deceased's belongings in the Gulf country, the DEMO office can sometimes verify registration status through their electronic database. But the process is significantly harder without the card in hand. Families should try to locate the card among the worker's documents in Bangladesh before beginning the application process.

Common Mistakes That Delay or Kill the Claim

Filing without the Warishan Certificate. The WEWB will not process the 3 lakh grant without a Warishan Certificate from the local Union Parishad, Pourashava, or City Corporation. This certificate identifies all legal heirs of the deceased. Getting it requires a trip to the local government office and can take three to seven working days — longer if the family situation is contested.

Using the foreign death certificate without local registration. The WEWB requires both the foreign death certificate from the Gulf country and a local death registration certificate from Bangladesh. Many families assume the foreign certificate is sufficient. It is not. The body must be registered as deceased with the relevant Union Parishad, Pourashava, or City Corporation where the family resides.

Not claiming the airport grant at all. The airport desk grant is a same-day, in-person process. If the family member collecting the body does not know to ask, or does not have the three required documents at the airport, the grant may not be available at the desk. Ask the WEWB immediately about any alternative route.

Where to File

The DEMO office is the primary filing location for the 3 lakh grant. Every district in Bangladesh has a DEMO office under the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment. The WEWB headquarters in Dhaka also accepts direct applications.

The Bangladeshi Dies in Gulf States — Family Guide includes the complete WEWB claim checklist, a walkthrough of the Warishan Certificate application, and the document preparation sequence that prevents the delays most families encounter at the DEMO office.