Expatriates
BGMEA chief urges expats to contribute more to Bangladesh's development
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has urged expatriates living in the US to contribute more to Bangladesh's development.
"Your support and contribution will help Bangladesh realise its untapped potential – namely, draw foreign investment, project a positive image and protect interests of the country internationally," he said.
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
The BGMEA chief made the call while addressing the conference "New World New Hope: United Nations and Bangladesh" organised by the Centre for Non Resident Bangladeshis in New York recently on the sidelines of the 76th General Assembly of the United Nations, the apex body of the country's apparel industry said Saturday.
Bangladeshis living abroad, especially the NRBs holding influential positions in their countries of residence, including the US, can play an important role in promoting the interests of Bangladesh at policy-making levels, Faruque said.
READ: BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
He also urged the Bangladeshi community in the US to give preference to "Made in Bangladesh" garments during their shopping and also present them as gifts to their foreign friends.
"It will not only pave the way for Bangladesh to increase its apparel export to the US market but also help promote 'Made in Bangladesh' brand among the US citizens," he added.
Send money home in 5 seconds through Blaze
Bangladeshi expatriates living in different countries of the world will now be able to send money home in just five seconds through Blaze, the country’s first cross-border payment network.
Three organizations--Sonali Bank, HomePay HomePay, and ITCL--have taken the initiative to operate the Blaze service, creating a scope for the expatriates to send money home in five seconds -- 7/24.
Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy formally inaugurated the service as the chief guest through a virtual function chaired by Sonali Bank Limited chairman Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui.
READ: bKash customers can send money to five ‘Priyo numbers’ without charge
State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Bangladesh Bank’s deputy governor Ahmed Jamal, Sonali Bank Limited CEO & Managing Director Ataur Rahman Prodhan, ITCL MD & CEO Dr Kazi Saifuddin Munir and HomePay CEO Rubel Ahsan also spoke at the programme.
Addressing the programme, Sajeeb Wazed said the Awami League government’s next dream is to build a cashless society in the days to come. “Launching Blaze service is part of that dream.”
He said many people in the country do not have bank accounts as they completely depend on cash money. “But the cash money can be stolen and looted anytime. There’s also a scope for corruption in cash transactions. When we'll move to a cashless society, the scope for corruption will be reduced.”
Read Renowned online payment gateways in Bangladesh for domestic, international transactions
Govt offers hope for returnee expats with Tk 427-cr rehabilitation project
The government on Wednesday approved a Tk 427-crore project to rehabilitate two lakh expatriates as some five lakh Bangladeshi workers returned home losing their overseas jobs amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the big project at an Ecnec meeting held virtually with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The PM joined the meeting from Ganobhaban, while others from the NEC conference room.
Read: 28,849 Bangladeshi expats to return home: FM
Each of two lakh returnees will get orientation, counseling and then Tk 13,500 as cash incentive alongside other employment-related supports under the project.
Along with this project, a total of 10 development projects involving the overall estimated cost of Tk 2,575.42 crore got approval at the meeting.
“Today, 10 projects placed by nine ministries were approved at the meeting. Seven of these projects are new while the remaining three are revised ones,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Of the total estimated cost, Tk 2,150.42 crore will come from the national exchequer while the rest of Tk 425 crore as foreign loans from the World Bank, he said.
Mannan said the Prime Minister appreciated the supportive project for employment generation in the informal sector aiming to reintegrate the migrant workers who have returned.
Hasina said the expatriates who returned home contributed a lot to the country. “Now the country will have to provide support to them.”
Under the project, some 23,500 selected returnees who are skilled in different trades will also be given support to have certificates from the recognised organisations and manage jobs at home and abroad.
The other project operations include preparation of a database of the returnee workers, making the returnees connected with financial, technical and other relevant organisations and providing support to get loan and financial assistance, and engaging them in different productive activities and small business enterprises.
The Wage Earners’ Welfare Board under the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry will execute the project by December 2023.
The project will be implemented in 32 districts of the country. The districts are Dhaka, Tangail, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Pabna, Bogura, Naogaon, Rajshahi, Sirajganj, Barishal, Patuakhali, Kushtia, Jashore, Khulna, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, Chandpur, Feni, Noakhali, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Rangamati.
Of the project cost of Tk 427.30 crore, Tk 425 crore will come as loan from the World Bank, while the rest Tk 2.30 crore from the GoB fund.
State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said some five lakh expatriates returned home due to the Covid pandemic.
Read: Bangladesh expats to return to Oman from Oct 1 without NOCs
The other new projects include Modernisation and expansion of the services and research facilities of the Institute of Tissue Banking and Biomaterial Research’ project at a cost of Tk 173.80 crore, Construction of 3 underpasses and Paduar Bazar intersection U-Loop on Dhaka-Chattogram National Highway project with Tk 568.93 crore, and Protection of the left bank of the Padma River on the downside of Padma Multipurpose Bridge in different places under Louhajang and Tongibari upazilas of Munshiganj project with Tk 446.12 crore.
The remaining new projects are Setting up a full-fledged child cardiology and child cardiac surgery unit in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) project with Tk 72.09 crore, Construction of Bangladesh Chancery Bhaban at Canberra in Australia project with Tk 146.87 crore, and BSCIC food processing estate in Thakurgaon project with Tk 98.61 crore.
The three revised projects are Upgrading district highways into proper standard and width (Mymensingh Zone) (1st revised) with additional cost of Tk 111.58 crore (now the cost increased to Tk 680 crore in 1st revision), District-based computer training for women (3rd revised) project with additional cost of Tk 31.82 crore (Cost now stands at Tk 118.79 crore), and Reconstruction or Replacement of Iron Bridges in the country’s southern region (1st revised) project with an additional cost of Tk 498.30 crore (Now the cost went up to Tk 2334 crore).
At the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to ensure the proper height of bridges during their construction through coordination with Inland Water Transportation for keeping waterways operative, said the planning minister.
No easy bank loans, say jobless expatriates, but bank refutes allegations
Left jobless due to corona pandemic last year a helpless Nurul Azim Babu returned from Dubai to his home in Chottagram, his future dark and gloomy.
The money he had saved from his six-year job as a driver exhausted soon forcing a desperate Babu to look for a new job or start a small business in Bangladesh.
Read: No good news yet from Italy: FM about expats' return
The job proved elusive and no business was coming his way as the father of three children had no capital.
At this point Babu received a good news.
The government announced a Tk. 700 crore package of incentives for the Bangladeshi expatriates like him who had to return home after losing jobs abroad due to Covid-19.
As advised by a friend he went to the state-owned Prabashi Kallyan Bank and applied for a loan Tk 3 lakh.
It did not take long for the helpless man to realize getting the loan was not going to be a cakewalk.
“The first thing the bank asked me to do is to prove that I have an at least one-year-old running business in Bangladesh.” “Since I had no such business and no one to help me in this regard I did not qualify for the loan.”
Haunted by his job loss and subsequent harassment at home a frustrated Babu wondered if the government offer has been “a kind of deception.”
This is not only Babu’s tale. A good number of an estimated five lakh Bangladeshi returnee expatriates have echoed his frustration in interviews with this UNB correspondent.
Read: Bahrain urged to take back Bangladeshi expats
Consider the case of Sohag Hawlader, who returned from Lebanon after being fired from his work with his employer citing coronavirus woes.
He said, "If an ordinary expatriate like me goes for a loan from PKB, they ask to submit trade license and signature of a businessman, signature of another government official as guarantee."
Sohag, who has his wife and a child continued: "They (PKB) are posting advertisement on Facebook and YouTube: it is very easy to get loan from the bank. There should have a limit to harassment.
“My request to all expatriates is not to take a loan from them as they are insulting us,” said an angry Shohag.
The PKB management strongly refutes the allegations.
Zahidul Haq, managing director of PKB told UNB that they are successfully disbursing their loan to the returnee migrants who wanted to start their new business or project in Bangladesh.
“The Bank is trying its best to help the migrants in financing their businesses,” he said.
He countered that many expatriates have understood the package as one-time charity, not a loan.
"People want to take money from the bank as incentives, but not as loan. Those who are complaining don’t want to follow the procedure needed to get loan. We only sanction loan to the people who can really show a plan of business as our aim is to reintegrate them," he said.
He mentioned that the bank has already disbursed almost TK250 crore to the 13000 migrants in last 11 months.
The bank is still following up the applications who have failed to take the loan as “we will get another amount of TK390 crore from the government,” he said.
Last year the government announced a Taka 700 crore fund for rehabilitation and re-employment of the jobless overseas workers.
Read: 28,849 Bangladeshi expats to return home: FM
It came as many Bangladeshis to the country after Covid-19-induced loss of overseas employment.
The PKB says it has disbursed Tk250 crore to almost 13000 returnees until June 21 this year, covering only 2% of the returnee migrants.
Yet there are outpouring of allegations from the affected expatriates.
Tanjil Islam, a returnee, said, "I went to the Cox's Bazar branch of PKB six times, but did not get any loan.”
“They (bank officials) came to my home and demanded money. I didn't pay and so they submitted the bad report about me."
Another returnee from Saudi Arabia Muneer Islam said that the expatriate welfare and loan distribution is just a propaganda. They are charging the same interest rate like other commercial banks.”
Is it an example on how a good government initiative fails to reach the intended beneficiaries.
The government has created a low interest loan facility of Tk500 crore, while a Tk200 crore fund from the Wage Earners' Welfare Board was also formed.
Loans for the returnee migrants are being distributed through the PKB.
The PKB is giving Tk1-5 lakh loans at 4% interest to returnee migrants. Those who receive the reintegration loans will enjoy a grace period ranging from one month to one year before they start to repay the loans. A returnee can take a maximum of Tk2 lakh as loan without any collateral.
According to a rapid study conducted by the Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Programme (Okup) last year, around 80 per cent of the returnee migrant workers want to be reintegrated in Bangladesh. But apparently the number of loan receivers is still very poor.
A survey by Brac Migration Programme has found that 47.23 per cent of 417 returnee migrants do not have any source of income now.
The report says 52.77 per cent of the 417 respondents to the survey have somehow managed work.
Of them, 24.19 per cent are working in agriculture, 22.33 per cent as day labourers, 35.35 per cent in small businesses and 17.67 per cent are working in other jobs.
The survey was conducted in March-April to explore and analyse the socio-economic and psycho-social situation of returnee migrants after one year of their return home during the pandemic.
In a similar survey conducted around the same time last year, Brac found 87 per cent of 558 returnee migrants did not have income opportunities, said Brac Migration Programme Head Shariful Hasan.
Also, 28 per cent respondents said they have debts now. Of them, 61.95 per cent borrowed money after returning home, and 25.05 per cent had debts previously.
Rights groups suggest the government increase budgetary allocation for the expatriates' welfare. They call for their inclusion into the government programmes and policies in response to the shock of the pandemic.
Mentioning migrant workers' immense contribution to the country's economy, RMMRU Executive Director Prof CR Abrar said,
"Many migrants have come back under very dire circumstances, and they have not been able to make ends meet.”
77% Bangladeshi returnee migrants struggling to find jobs: Study
Around 77% of the returnee migrants in Bangladesh were struggling to find jobs between April and November last year because of Covid-19 pandemic, says a study.
Among the migrant households with returnees, 61% had at least one member who lost a job or earning opportunity during the pandemic.
More than three-fourth (77%) of the marriages that took place in households during surveyed period had brides who were under the age of 18, which is 26% higher than the national rate of child marriage (51%) in 2018.
Child marriages were found to be more prevalent in rural areas (81%) than in urban locations (70%).
Read Bahrain urged to take back Bangladeshi expats
These are the outcomes of a research jointly conducted by BRAC, UN WOMEN Bangladesh and the Center on International Cooperation at New York University.
The research looks into the changes in demographic, economic, and social environments in secondary towns, peri-urban (upazila), and rural areas brought on by the reverse migrations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The findings of the research titled “Demographic and socio-economic changes induced by the Covid-19 pandemic: Challenges of new circumstances” was unveiled at a virtual policy dialogue on Saturday.
A panel of distinguished experts, academics, policymakers, and development professionals shared their valuable insights at the dialogue.
Also read: 70pc Bangladeshi returnee migrants struggling to find jobs: IOM
They also discussed the policy priority areas identified by the study findings and way forward.
Dr. Shamsul Alam, Member (Senior Secretary), General Economics Division, Planning Commission, attended the dialogue as the chief guest.
Representatives from the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM), Dhaka University, the Center on International Cooperation at New York University, UN Women Bangladesh Office, UNDP Bangladesh, and BRAC joined as discussants.
A survey was conducted with 6,370 households during 10-25 December 2020 as part of the study that applied both quantitative and qualitative techniques.
Read Also: IOM supports Bangladesh's efforts at entry points to fight COVID-19
The survey considered April-November 2020 as a reference period.
The study calls attention specifically to the impact of the Covid-19 on internal and international migration, including returnee migrants who were forced to return to their places of origin due to various circumstances during the pandemic.
One-fourth (25%) of returnee migrant households are concerned over repaying their outstanding migration loans, which amount to an average of BDT 76,000 (around USD 900), and a maximum of BDT 700,000 (around USD 8300), the study found.
Around 44% reported that they could not find any income-generating work and some of them are managing expenses by withdrawing from savings or using rent from assets.
Read Govt to expats: Don't come during lockdown, except for emergencies
Returnee migrants: Almost half still unemployed, 28% in debt after a year
Nearly 48% of the Bangladeshi migrant workers, who were forced to return home last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, are now dependent on loans and relatives' support in the absence of any regular source of income, says a Brac survey.
Many of them returned due to fear of getting infected, some lost jobs as companies closed operations, some returned permanently, while others returned on leave.
Also read: 70pc Bangladeshi returnee migrants struggling to find jobs: IOM
Many of them could not get back to their old jobs or migrate again to find a new job because of global lockdown.
This has left 98% of such returnees with severe anxiety, depression, and psychological disorders.
Read WB approves $200 million to help Dhaka support urban poor, migrants
The other 52% have started small businesses or are working as day labourers to make a living, said the Brac Migration Program survey titled "Searching and Analysing the Socio-economic Status of Returnees."
Brac surveyed 417 Bangladeshi returnees across seven divisions from March to April 2021 to explore and analyse their socio-economic and psycho-social situation, one year after their return to Bangladesh amid the pandemic.
Also read: MoU signed for helping returnee migrants
The majority of the respondents were returnees from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and others returned from Italy, the UK, and Malaysia.
Around 19% of the respondents said they had returned to Bangladesh after losing their job, whereas 16% were forced to return, 16% returned due to the fear of Covid-19, 12% returned permanently, 2% returned due to illness, and 35% returned on leave.
Some 28% of the respondents claimed to be already in debt.
Also read: Over half of returnee migrants in need of financial aid now: Brac
Nearly 5 lakh people had to return to Bangladesh from their host countries due to the pandemic which has been raging since the end of 2019, the study says.
More than 10 million Bangladeshi expatriates are working across the globe now. The country’s remittance inflow reached $22 billion last year despite the virus outbreak, the highest on record.
Read Govt to expats: Don’t come during lockdown, except for emergencies
Govt to expats: Don’t come during lockdown, except for emergencies
The government has decided to discourage expatriate Bangladeshis from returning home during lockdown, unless facing an emergency.
Bangladesh Missions abroad are being engaged to disseminate the message among expat communities in various countries.
To convey the message to expatriates, support from the social media platforms, Bangladesh Missions’ websites and community leaders will be taken.
However, the expatriates will be able to return to home from abroad in case there is any emergency need with a condition of mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine.
Also read: Biman to run special flights to 5 countries from Apr 17
Each of the returnees will have to show Covid-19 negative certificate which is a must and the Bangladesh Missions abroad will prepare the list of those who need to come to Bangladesh on an emergency need.
The Armed Forces Division will take adequate preparations for institutional quarantine facilities in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet.
The decisions were taken at a virtual inter-ministerial meeting held on Thursday chaired by Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Health Minister, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and senior officials of the ministries concerned attended.
The government has decided to allow airlines including Biman Bangladesh Airlines to operate special flights to five countries - Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore from April 17 in an effort to help stranded Bangladeshi expatriate workers can join their workplaces.
Also read: Bangladesh to operate special flights to carry overseas workers
Among the expatriate Bangladeshi workers who want to go to these five countries having BMET clearance issued by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, they will be given priority in going abroad.
However, in the case of these countries, those who have a visit visa, but do not have BMET clearance, will not get priority in going abroad.
Bangladeshis who will go to the UAE for work with a visit visa can get a BMET clearance.
During the lockdown, those who wish to travel to countries other than the five mentioned countries in case of emergency will be able to travel on special flights as transit-passengers subject to clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Biman to run special flights to 5 countries from Apr 17
The government has decided to operate special flights of national flag-carrier Biman to five countries, including four in the Middle East with high concentration of Bangladeshi expat workers from April 17.
As disclosed by Tahera Khandaker, deputy general manager (public relations) of Biman on Thursday, these special flights can be availed to fly to three cities in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah), two of the United Arab Emirates (Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Oman's Muscat, and Qatar's Doha in the ME, as well as the city-state Singapore.
"The passengers who have made reservations for scheduled flights, set to operate after 6am Saturday, are requested to be at the airport with Covid-19 negative certificates six hours before the departure time," she said.
Also read: Bangladesh to operate special flights to carry overseas workers
The government suspended the operation of all domestic and international passenger flights to restrict the spread of Covid-19 in the country for the duration of the 'all-out lockdown' that came into effect on April 14.
However, the special flight services will allow overseas workers currently stuck in Bangladesh for whatever reason to return to their places of work amid the suspension of regular flights.
"Special flights will be arranged for the overseas workers who have got stuck in the country following the government's strict lockdown. Bangladeshis who work in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Singapore can leave the country under the special arrangements," Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad told UNB on Wednesday.
Also read: CAAB to suspend international flights from Apr 14
"The five countries are still open for Bangladesh as there is no problem in those countries," he said.
The minister also said, "The recruiting agencies concerned are responsible for bringing the overseas workers with Covid-19 negative certificates to the airport and they'll have to follow health guidelines as well."
Answering a query about how many workers have got stuck, the minister said: "It's difficult to say about the exact number but it might be 25000-30,000 as the recruiting agencies claim."
Read Over 200 protest flight cancellation at Dhaka airport
Initiatives taken to help workers get jobs in Malaysia without hassle: Envoy
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md Golam Sarwar on Saturday said they have taken a number of initiatives with digital platforms like “Chakrir Khoj” to help migrant workers get rid of any middlemen or agents making the entire process transparent and getting jobs without any hassle.
“There’ll be no scope of fraudulence or getting cheated (by agents). We’ll remain careful always so that no one gets cheated,” he said while exchanging views with the members of Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) virtually.
Deputy High Commissioner Mohammad Khorshed A Khastagir and officials from various wings of the High Commission also spoke at the programme.
The Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur recently launched the job portal “Chakrir Khoj” at a virtual event.
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, MP attended it as the chief guest while State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, MP was the special guest.
Take care of Bangladeshis living abroad: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry and recruiting agencies to take care of Bangladeshi expatriates.