DHAKA: As expatriates remitted generously into the central bank to create a glut of the greenback, experts suggested the government to make one-percent allocation in the upcoming budget for providing them logistic supports.

They reminded the government that expatriates are sending home around Tk 1070 crore per annum, which is about 11 to 12 percent of the total national income.

The advice came from a policy dialogue on ‘Incorporating Migration Governance in the sixth five-year plan Bangladesh’ organized by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) at Nawab Nawab Ali Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University with Dr Harun-or-Rashid, Pro Vice-chancellor of the university, in the chair.
 
Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, spoke as chief guest. He said, “There is a huge labor market abroad, but we are not able to send the skilled laborers which they want.”

The minister told the function that the government has already taken some initiatives like rearing skilled workers and forming Expatriate Welfare Bank. “The bank has been approved by the cabinet in principle and we are hopeful that it will be passed in the budget session.”    

Replying to a question the minister said some dishonest recruiting agencies are cheating with the persons who desire to go abroad through sending them overseas taking more than Tk 2 lakh although the labor migration is temporarily stopped now.  

Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman of the Palli Karmo Shahayok Foundation, said the population-growth rate is declining in the developed countries so there are huge opportunities of sending manpower.

“We need to build up skillful manpower in sectors having demand in developed countries”, he said.

The speakers observed that if the one percent is allocated from the national budget for the sector of labour migration, the government would earn Tk 1070 crore per annum.

Dr Tasneen Siddqui, Chairman of RMMRU, suggested in her keynote incorporating migration governance in the upcoming sixth five-year plan to develop the labour migration sector and promote life of expatriates.

“There are huge people among the expatriates who are interested to invest in the country. But they cannot invest for a lack of suitable opportunities,” she said.

Md Israfil Alam MP, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labor and Employment, Khurshid Alam Chowdhury, Director-General of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training and media personalities, among others, also spoke.

BDST: 1700 HRS, June 2, 2010
RT/MMA/MUA