FE Report

Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith Monday said the country's overseas workers are agents of 'change'. They remitted 12 per cent of the country's total earnings in the last fiscal year, he added.

"Bangladesh at present has 7.5 million agents of change working abroad whose hard earned remittances are not only improving their individual lives but also bringing about changes among the people surrounding them," the minister said expressing optimism that none can stop progress of this country now.

He was speaking as chief guest in the concluding session of the Remittance Utshob (Festival) and Shonar Manush Shommanona (Golden People Awards) organised by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Acknowledging the difficulties that Bangladeshi expatriates' face in the migration process and living abroad, the finance minister assured of taking preventive action at the earliest.

"We have limitations but no shortage of willingness to ensure maximum protection to the priceless expatriates," he said.

He also urged them (expatriates) to show patience in face of difficulties and report complaints to government office. "Action might take a little time but we can assure that their problem will definitely be addressed," he added.

Speaking as the guest of honour on the occasion, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain forecast major demand hike of Bangladeshi workers in coming years in European and Middle Eastern countries.

"Developed countries due to low population growth are going to face immense labour shortage as a major portion of their population were existing productive age group. That will open up the door of opportunity for us," he added.

He urged the potential migrants to develop their skills to capture the market and warned recruiters of dire consequences if they are found exploitative.

Moreover, he assured returning expatriates of VIP treatment at the airport including easy and hassle free immigration process without baggage checking.

Former adviser and renowned economist Prof. Wahiduddin Mahmud in his address criticised the unavailability of adequate data regarding expatriates' work abroad, their situation when they return home, utilisation of their remittance and poor regulation.

These signaled that the government still regarded the valuable foreign currency earning sector as an 'informal' one, he said. He was addressing the opening session as chief guest.

"The government only records how many people went abroad for work and the amount of remittance sent back in a year."

He said: "Proper training and bank facilities should be provided before one leaves for work overseas, and rehabilitation and security for those who return being cheated or because of job loss."

He asked the remittance recipient families and relatives of the remitters not to spend the money only in buying land and gold ornaments, but also to invest in agriculture and small industries.

"In 2008, migrants have remitted $9.2 billion which is two times higher than the net earnings of the readymade garments sector of that year, nine times more than FDI and five times more than the total foreign aid that the country received," Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman said on the occasion.

The global recession couldn't affect country's economy, as feared, is because of this remittance inflow, he added while addressing the closing session as special guest.

Some 13 banks participated with BAIRA, BMET (Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training) and RMMRU to deliver remittance related information to visitors.

President of RMMRU Dr Tasneem Siddiqui and top officials of the participating banks also gave speeches and recommendations in both the session.

Awards were distributed in the concluding session in the categories of best remitter, remittance utilising family, grassroots bankers, migrant rights protection committees and recruiting agencies.