The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

All Bangladeshi Missions abroad are being instructed to accord utmost priority to welfare of Bangladeshi workers abroad, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said Saturday. Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has directed that the Missions would report on the situation of expatriate Bangladeshis to the Ministry regularly on a pro-forma basis.

The report would include information on total numbers of workers, professions, problems facing them, numbers in jail, prospects of future employment and proposals to improve their conditions. "I believe such reports would not only enhance better policy coordination but also link the Missions even more to the Bangladeshi community abroad", Iftekhar added.

He said that expatriate Bangladeshis have sent remittances that touch nearly 7 billion dollars last year, which is a record for all times. "Most certainly, they need better looking after". The Advisor said "Today, we have "second generation non-Resident Bangladeshis who are keen to retain their connections at home by investing."

He said Chinese and Indian expatriate investors have played a huge role in development of their respective economies. The Foreign Ministry will work very closely with the Board of Investment to facilitate this phenomenon.

Iftekhar also indicated that the government is contemplating setting up of Special Economic Zones in order to attract expatriate Bangladeshi investments.