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Int’l Migrants Day tomorrow
DHAKA, Dec 17, 2020 (BSS) – The International Migrants Day-2020
will be observed tomorrow in the country in a befitting manner as
elsewhere across the globe.
On December 4, 2000, the UN General Assembly taking into account
the large and increasing number of migrants in the world declared
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.
President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today, on
the eve of the day, gave separate messages greeting Bangladeshi
migrants in different parts of the world on the occasion of the
International Migrants Day.
To mark the day, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas
Employment has chalked out various programmes like other countries of
the world.
The theme of the day in Bangladesh has been set as ‘Call of Mujib
Year, go abroad becoming skilled (Mujib Borsho er Ahoban, Dokkho hoye
Bidesh Jan)’.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said immigrant population has
a positive role in making the world more diverse and habitable by
creating bonds of brotherhood among people of different religions of
various parts of the world.
“Immigration is necessary to the development of human civilization,”
he said, adding that immigrants have significant contribution to the
development of their own country and the foreign country both.
He said they can bring the country’s infrastructure development and
economic prosperity.
Abdul Hamid also mentioned that the coronavirus pandemic around the
world has had a negative impact on the international labor market.
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INTERNATIONAL-MIGRANTS-DAY-TWO LAST
Migrant workers have strengthened the country’s economy by sending
record amounts of remittances even during the epidemic, the head of
the state said, adding that since the outbreak of the global Corona
epidemic, the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment
has provided much-needed assistance, including the repatriation of
stranded migrants, food and financial assistance to migrant workers,
which is highly commendable.
The President hoped that the expatriate Bangladeshis would enhance
the country’s reputation and dignity by discharging their duties with
honesty and devotion.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the present Awami
League led government has undertaken different programs to make
immigration management safe, transparent, fair and dynamic, including
creating opportunities for foreign employment, protecting the welfare
and interests of migrant workers, making the best use of the earned
foreign exchange and ensuring the safety of their families.
Incentives are already being provided at the rate of 2 percent on
remittances sent through legal channels, the premier said, adding that
as a result of this incentive, the inflow of foreign exchange earned
in exchange for the labor and merit of migrant workers continues to
increase.
In the fiscal year 2019-20, the amount of remittances sent by
expatriate Bangladeshis has increased by 10.90 percent as compared to
the previous year and reached 18.21 billion US dollars, she added.
Due to COVID-19, investment loans have been provided to the
returning migrant workers and their families on easy terms and a
reintegration programme has been adopted for them, she said, adding
that a fund of Taka 700 crore has already been set up for this purpose
and loan disbursement activities have been started from it.
She said various programmes have also been taken to create
opportunities for the active participation of expatriate workers and
non-resident Bangladeshis in the development of the country.
“Our government is working on a plan to send an average of 1,000
workers a year from each upazila abroad,” she continued.
In order to provide technical training on the basis of global
demand, reduce the cost of migration and make middlemen accountable,
several activities have been started such as creation of a central
database, she said, adding that overall automation in the recruitment
process and various digitalized services have been also launched in
this regard.
The premier hoped that all concerned will be able to ensure more
equitable and safer labor migration through creating overall awareness
and integrated initiatives on foreign employment.
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