The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Makkah

Bangladeshi expatriates here have expressed interest to invest in reopening and reviving the country's closed and sick industries in line with the present government's plan to turn Bangladesh into a modern, self-reliant country by the year 2021.

In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assured the Bangladeshi expatriates of providing all necessary cooperation to make best use of their hard earned money through investment in various development sectors.

The Bangladeshi expatriates of Makkah at a reception at Hotel Intercontinental on Wednesday (April 22) pledged to extend every support to the three-month-old government to implement all its development plans and projects.

Hasina informed the gathering that the government has already decided to establish an 'Expatriate Bank' for safe migration of the Bangladeshi workers and proper utilization of the foreign exchange.

"You will be owners of the bank. Interested people will take loans from the bank and pay back the loan gradually from their income abroad… you won't have to sell your homes and lands to come abroad. We want your safe life," she said.

The expatriate bank will be set up for proper use of the fund lying idle in the Labour Ministry, she added.

Hasina also disclosed another plan of her government to launch housing projects in the districts across the country. She urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to invest also in the planned housing projects.

When the expatriates demanded inclusion of their names in the national voter list, the Prime Minister said the government would take necessary measures in this regard.

"We are thinking of not only to include you in the voter list, rather we'll take steps so that you can cast your votes directly from abroad," she said amid applause.

She said that to do away with any irregularities and to protect the workers from harassment, the government would soon introduce Machine Readable Passport (MRP).

"Moreover, we'll ensure that the Bangladeshi workers come abroad after knowing the laws and rules of foreign countries. I will ask the ministry concerned to introduce training programmes for the aspiring jobseekers."

At the function, the expatriate Bangladeshis alleged non-cooperation by the officials of Bangladesh Embassy and consulate offices here.

The Prime Minister assured the Bangladeshi expatriates of initiating investigation into the alleged negligence by the embassy and consulate offices in providing necessary cooperation to them.

"You just inform in writing about any type of negligence by the embassy officials. I assure you, the officials responsible will be found out and due action taken against them," she said.

Hasina said the salaries of government officials including those in the embassies are provided from the hard-earned money of commoners including the expatriates. "So, such allegation of negligence against the embassy personnel is undesirable."

Calling for patience, she said ministers for Foreign Affairs, Labour and Employment, and Expatriate Welfare "are here with me. We'll take due action against the officials if they are found guilty."

The Prime Minister said negligence by the ambassadors and consulate officials is harmful for the government and the country as they are posted abroad to look after the interests of the people as well as the government.

She expressed her gratitude to the expatriates for their prayers seeking divine blessings of almighty Allah for her release when she was in jail.

Referring to her party's landslide victory in last general election, Hasina recalled the role of expatriate Bangladeshis during the period of polling by sending message to their near and dear ones for casting vote in favour of Awami League.

She said a huge responsibility devolved on their shoulder as the people voted Awami League to power with lot of expectations. "So, the people's hopes and aspiration should be fulfilled."

Mentioning the February 25-26 Peelkhana carnage, Sheikh Hasina said she could not come to Saudi Arabia earlier for the unexpected and shocking incident in the BDR headquarters.

She expressed satisfaction that the government was eventually able to tackle the mutiny without any further bloodshed.

"All the discussions were fruitful," Hasina said about her meeting with the Saudi King and the Foreign Minister, and also meetings between Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and her Saudi counterpart and of Expatriate Welfare Minister Engr Khandaker Musharraf Hossain with Saudi government's deputy minister for labour.

Describing the outcome of the meetings, she said the issue of Akama (Work Permit) transfer is going to be solved soon. "Now you can't change your companies or when are sacked by your employer, you have to return home without a penny. Insha-Allah, this problem will be resolved soon."

The Prime Minister said that she had talked to the Saudi King about the accommodation problem of Bangladeshi pilgrims during the Hajj season.

"I've told the Saudi monarch that Bangladesh needs a piece of land to construct dormitories to provide residence to the Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims. The honorable king replied to it positively," she said.

Hasina specially thanked the Governor of Makkah region, Prince Khalid al Faisal, for helping the expatriates in arranging such an excellent function that allowed her to talk to the citizens of Bangladesh here in Makkah.

She voiced her support to the Arab Peace Plan formulated by the Saudi King and hoped that peace will be established in the Muslim Ummah as well as in the world through implementation of the King's peace plan.

She said though Islam is the religion of peace, Islam's image is being tarnished due to terror activities of a handful of people who are using the name of Islam in conducting their heinous acts.

The Prime Minister also mentioned her government's success in bringing down the prices of essentials including rice and assured the expatriates that their families in Bangladesh would live in peace during the tenure of the present Awami League government.

She said as the price of rice has decreased significantly, the government would procure rice directly from the farmers at such a price that they do not suffer any loss due to the reduction of rice price.

Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud, State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Munnujan Sufian and Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad attended the function.

Saifur Rahman, Jasim Uddin Chowdhury and Shahid Hossain Patwari, among others, spoke at the function on behalf of expatriate Bangladeshis.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia M Fazlul Karim, Consular in Makkah Golam Sarwar and high officials and elite of Saudi Arabia were also present.