DHAKA, Dec 17, 2019 (BSS) – President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted Bangladeshi migrants in different parts of the world on the occasion of the International Migrants Day.
In separate messages on the eve of the day, they urged the Bangladeshi expatriates to uphold the country’s culture and heritage and brighten its image abroad.
On December 4, 2000, the UN General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed December 18 as the International Migrants Day.
On that day in 1990, the UN assembly adopted the International Convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said immigration is necessary to the development of human civilization as the immigrants have significant contribution to the infrastructural development and economic prosperity of their destination countries side by side with making contributions to economic uplift of their own countries.
The migrants have been making the world more diverse by creating bonding among people of different castes, creeds and beliefs in different parts of the world.
Abdul Hamid mentioned that at present there are more than one crore Bangladeshi migrants in 173 countries.
“Migrants workers are pride of the country. With their merits and labour, a huge number of migrant people have been playing an important role in the economic progress of the country alongside contributing to the development of their family and living standard,” he said.
The President said the remittance sent by the immigrants is one of the driving forces of the national economy and so they are also proud partners of the country’s development and progress.
The President said Bangladesh is now going through demographic dividend and the country can utilize the benefits till 2030.
He underscored the need for turning the huge population into skilled manpower by providing short and long term technical and technological training.
The President called upon the Bangladeshi migrants to portray the native cultural and heritage to brighten the country’s image side by side with knowing the culture and language of the destitution countries and being respectful to their laws.
He urged all concerned to ensure that no immigrant workers become victim of harassments by any means at home and abroad.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League government is determined to ensure proper, safe and regular immigration across the world and establish good governance in immigration process. Because of the restless efforts of the government, Bangladesh has become a role model of development in the world, she said.
Considering the utmost importance of overseas employment, she said the government has declared it a ‘thrust sector’.
The Prime Minister said as per the electoral pledges, the government is working to ensure overseas employment for average one thousand youths from each upazila, sending more trained workers to different countries and ensuring profitable investment of hard-earned income of the migrant workers and ensuring easy loans during going abroad and getting necessary loan facilities for permanent employments at home after returning from abroad.
She said two percent incentive is being provided on money remitted on legal channel by expatriate Bangladeshis.
In 2018-19 fiscal year, Bangladesh received $16.42 billion in remittance which was 9.61 percent higher compared to previous fiscal year, she added.
She expressed his hope that the Bangladeshi expatriates will brighten the country’s image abroad and work from their respective positions to build a hunger and poverty free ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The President and the Prime Minister wished success of all programmes of the day.