The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Flow of foreign remittances during the last one year has set a new record in the country as a result of different pragmatic steps taken by the present caretaker government after taking office on January 11, 2007.

Experts from private and public sectors hope that flow of foreign remittances in the country is expected to break all previous records at the end of this financial year if the current trend is continued in this sector. According to the statistics available in the ministry of Labour and Employment, a total of 5.93 billion US Dollars equivalent to Take 41,2,77 crore foreign remittance has come in the country from January to December 24 last year.

On the other hand, the country has set a new record by earning a total of 61.86 crore US dollars only in the month of November last year which is all time high against the previous years.

Besides, the government has achieved a remarkable success in various fields, including exporting Bang-ladeshi manpower and creating new job markets for its labour force abroad and taking steps against the dishonest recruiting agencies with a view to bringing discipline in this very vital sector.

The scope for exporting Bangladeshi manpower to different countries in Europe, Middle- East and South-East Asia has increased significantly during the last one year following the various bilateral and multilateral initiatives taken by the government.

Concerned ministry sources said that a total of 5, 66,269 Bangladeshi workers went to different countries across the world including Malaysia from January to December 24.

Besides, NOC (no objection certificate) has been provided to another 8,18,712 workers during the period and 2,52,000 workers are waiting for going abroad.

As part of the government's measures for the development of the sector, it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South Korean government under which some 10,000 Bangladeshi workers will get employment opportunities in that country.

It has signed another MoU with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to increase export of Bangladeshi manpower to the country as well as establishing their legitimate rights there. The MoU was signed during the visit of the UAE labour minister in Dhaka in May last year, sources said.

Besides, Abu Dhabi government under its Township Development Programme has agreed to recruit 8,000 more Bangladeshi workers in the first phase. Preparation is underway to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this end.

Sources in the Ministry of Labour and Employment told BSS that job markets for Bangladeshi workers have also been expanding gradually in Europe, Oman, Japan and Qatar since the present government took office.

The preparation for signing an MoU between Bangladesh and Cyprus to send 10,000 skilled Bangladeshi labour force to the European country is underway. However, Poland government has also showed keen interest to recruit Bangladeshi manpower.

Meanwhile, the Oman government has lifted ban on recruiting Bangladeshi workers after 12 years that will facilitate the scope for Bangladesh to export more manpower to that country in addition to 1.50 lakh Bangladeshi workers currently living in Oman.

The Oman government has already showed interest to import Bangladeshi skilled workers like teachers, doctors, engineers and technicians, the sources said.

Besides, the Bangladeshi workers living in Qatar is going to enjoy same facilities like the local workers. The government on January 6 this year has signed an agreement with the government of Qatar to this end.

The present Caretaker Government under the able leadership of Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed has also taken steps to export Bangladeshi manpower in Japan and Iran.

The Japan government has expressed its eagerness to recruit skilled workforce from Bangladesh. Iran has also showed positive response to recruit unskilled, semi-skilled workers and professionals from Bangladesh.

When contacted concerned sources said the government has taken initiative to bring changes in the existing manpower export policy of the country and is searching new destinations for Bangladeshi workforce abroad.

Apart from this, the government has taken lawful actions against 13 recruiting agencies for their irregularities and corruption in sending manpower in different countries including Malaysia during the last one year. It has realized Taka 1.56 crore from the agencies during the period and returned the money to the persons cheated by the recruiting agencies.

However, the present government considering the contribution of the expatriate Bangladeshis to the growth of the country's economy has taken a project to construct flats in the Bhatara Mouza in Gulshan area aiming at selling those to the foreign- exchange earners.

These steps taken by the present government will help further boost earning of foreign currencies through exporting more Bangladeshi manpower, experts opined.