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PM-EXPATRIATES WELFARE
Diplomatic efforts on to keep up expats’ jobs: PM
DHAKA, July 8, 2020 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said diplomatic efforts are underway to keep intact the overseas jobs of expatriate Bangladeshis amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“We’ve kept up our diplomatic strides so that the expatriate Bangladeshis, who are now abroad, could continue with their jobs,” she said, adding that the ministers concerned have held discussions in this regard.
The premier said this while responding to a supplementary question from ruling party lawmaker Benazir Ahmed during her scheduled question-answer session in parliament.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has been continuing discussions with each and every country concerned in this regard while the Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are jointly working together in this regard.
She said the foreign minister has already discussed with his counterparts of the OIC countries where a proposal has been put forward to create a fund while Bangladesh has already created a fund of its own to this end.
Besides, the Leader of the House said, the government has been providing special stimulus to those legal expatriate Bangladeshis who are returning home through arranging some loans for them so that they could maintain their livelihood.
In this context, she mentioned about the Taka 2,000 crore incentive package from where the interested returnees could take loan at 4 percent interest from the Expatriates Welfare Bank, Palli Sanchay Bank, Karmasangsthan Bank and PKSF.
Listing various steps of her government for the welfare of the expatriates, the premier said collateral free loan is being given to the registered people who are willing to go abroad while special measures are also being taken for ensuring safety of those who are going abroad.
“Those who go abroad for work after registration can enjoy security in their work,” Sheikh Hasina said, adding that much more remittances are now coming through legal channel due to the introduction of 2 percent incentive on sending remittance.
The prime minister said even if the expatriates return home despite the government measures to keep up their livelihood abroad, the government is taking all necessary steps to extend them credit so that they could invest on something or could do any business and thus maintain their livelihood.
She said those who are involved in manpower business would not fall into any kind of trouble if they follow the proper guidelines and rules.
In this regard, the prime minister urged the businessmen in manpower export sector to send people abroad after properly knowing about the job and the country where they are sending people and also other related particulars.
Sheikh Hasina said although the government has been extending various facilities to the countrymen, many people tend to go abroad illegally spending several lakhs of Taka and even they are losing their lives.
Referring to the recent killing of 26 Bangladeshi nationals in Libya, she said her government has also been taking steps against those recruiting agencies which were involved in sending people illegally there.
More/GA/SH/GA/ 1444 hrs