The government will send a team to the United Arab Emirates to discuss reopening the labour market there for Bangladeshis, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam.
“A team will be sent to the UAE soon to resolve the issues,” he told the inaugural session of the World Conference Series 2014 at Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka yesterday.
The Centre of Non-Resident Bangladeshis organised the event. The centre’s chairman Shekil Ahmed presided over the function, attended by representatives from different countries.
Shahriar Alam said the government has given a special focus on manpower export.
“As part of this, online visa process application has started. Other facilities have also been introduced, including sending remittances home faster,” the state minister said.
The UAE has recently stopped issuing visas to the Bangladeshi workers. The oil-rich country is second largest employer of Bangladeshi workers with over 12 lakh working there.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.
He said the remittance sent by the expatriate Bangladeshis has a significant role towards economic development of the country.
Dr Atiur defended the non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) about the allegation of their spending in unproductive sectors.
“It’s not true that they are spoiling money in unproductive sectors,” the governor said.
He repeated how remittance was developing rural economy, alleviating poverty, improving living standards of the people, making forex reserves healthier and assisting national development efforts.
He provided data that the remittance from Bangladeshis contributes around 10% to gross domestic product.
Bangladesh received remittance worth around $14.46bn in FY2012-13 with 12.59% growth, the BB chief said.
The remittance accounts for 66% of the country’s total foreign exchange reserves, Atiur Rahman said.
At the function, NRBs put forward 15-point demands, including taking measures to build image of the country in abroad, appointment of skilled officers in the foreign missions, making the investment process easier for NRBs and developing stock market through a close co-ordination between the central bank, securities regulator, finance ministry and the agencies concerned.
