Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has thanked expatriate Bangladeshis for their special contributions towards increasing foreign-exchange reserves (forex), saying that it is a responsibility of her government to ensure their welfare.
On Tuesday, the prime minister said: “Expatriate Bangladeshis make special contributions to boosting forex reserves. Especially the role of the workers in this regard is great. So, it is our duty to look after their betterment.”
The prime minister said the expatriates are also playing an important role in infrastructure development and the economy of those countries where they are working.
She made the remarks while addressing a function, marking the laying of the foundation stone of new Chancery Building of Bangladesh's High Commission at the Diplomatic Enclave at Jalan Kebangsaan in Brunei's capital, Tuesday morning.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Brunei Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Mahmud Hussain also spoke at the function.
The premier said her government is prioritizing constructing mission buildings where the number of expatriate Bangladeshis is high.
She said: “Bangladesh missions will have their own buildings in every country in phases.”
Sheikh Hasina said she has already given directives to establish at least one Bangladeshi school in every country, where a large number of Bangladeshi expatriates live, so that their children can pursue their studies there properly.
The prime minister said when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was rebuilding the war-ravaged nation, he purchased some buildings for the Bangladesh mission.
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However, after his assassination, she said, nobody took any initiative in this regard. When the Awami League government assumed office after long 21 years, it took steps to construct its missions in different countries including the USA, India, and Japan.
She added: “We also took decisions to buy land to construct our missions in different countries.”
Lauding the architectural design of Bangladesh’s Chancery Building in Brunei, the prime minister emphasized constructing the mission building adhering to local weather, the environment, and existing infrastructures.
The premier thanked the main architect of Bangladesh’s Chancery Building in Brunei, Rozain Mery Yanti, and her team, for preparing a beautiful design for the building.
Rozain Mery Yanti, also a lawmaker, visited Bangladesh a number of times.
“Through the Chancery Building, the expatriate Bangladeshis will get better services and it will help them move here smoothly,” the premier added.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said she will visit Brunei again for the inauguration of the building which will be finished within 18 months.
The prime minister promised her government is constructing Bangladesh missions one after another. She said: “The construction work of Bangladesh’s Chancery Building in Italy has almost been completed,” adding that she will visit Italy to open the building.
Terming Brunei as a very beautiful country, she said there are many places like Brunei that Bangladeshi businessmen are yet to explore. “Such places can be new areas for our business and trade,” she added.
Later, she visited Royal Regalia Museum.
