Govt to boost manpower at Bangladesh missions: Touhid

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Friday said the government is actively working to increase manpower in Bangladesh’s missions abroad, particularly at consulate general offices, to ensure better services for millions of expatriates.

“We have initiated efforts to enhance human resources, especially at our consular posts . . . I hope to achieve at least partial success in this endeavor,” he said.

The adviser made the remarks while addressing a discussion marking Foreign Service Day-2025 at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, reports BSS.

Hossain said around 80 percent of the challenges faced by Bangladeshi expatriate workers stem from domestic processes before their migration, while the remaining 20 percent occur in destination countries.

“Yet, our missions abroad are left to deal with the entire 100 percent of the problems,” he observed, stressing the importance of addressing root causes at home to ease pressure on foreign missions.

Despite limited manpower and logistical constraints, Bangladesh missions are providing services to over 10 million expatriates worldwide, he said.

Citing the example of Saudi Arabia, the adviser said nearly 3.2 million Bangladeshis reside in the Kingdom. “How can 50 officials in a mission handle problems of such a vast number?,” he questioned.

He urged that initiatives must begin in Dhaka to reduce the systemic difficulties facing migrant workers before they even leave the country.

Calling for greater empathy among officials, the foreign adviser said, “Expatriates don’t go to missions out of choice. Most arrive in desperation. While a few may behave improperly, the majority come in dire need of support.”

He urged officials at missions abroad to serve expatriates with utmost sincerity and dedication, recognising their significant contributions to the nation’s economy.

Speaking to reporters after the event, the foreign adviser also addressed the Rohingya repatriation crisis, describing Bangladesh’s current position as a “dilemma.”

He identified the Arakan Army, the rebel group who is now controlling most of t6he area of Myanmar’s Rakhine state, as a major impediment to progress.

“The Arakan Army is neither a state actor nor an internationally recognised entity, so formal talks are not possible. Yet, a solution to the crisis is unlikely without engaging them in some form,” he said.

Hossain stressed that despite the lack of recognition, the Arakan Army’s presence and influence in Rakhine make their role unavoidable in any comprehensive resolution to the Rohingya crisis.

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and several former Bangladesh diplomats also spoke at the discussion on different features of the day.

Foreign Service Day is observed on April 18 each year, commemorating a pivotal moment during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971 when a group of brave Bengali diplomats serving in the Pakistan Foreign Service first pledged their allegiance to the Provisional Government of Bangladesh.

Their bold move marked a significant milestone in the nation’s journey toward independence and laid the foundation for an independent foreign policy.

The day symbolizes the courage, commitment, and professional excellence of Bangladesh’s diplomatic community in advancing the country’s interests on the global stage.