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5 years ago

Govt responsibility is to ensure expatriates’ welfare: PM

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has thanked the expatriate Bangladeshis for their special contributions towards increasing forex reserve, saying that it is a responsibility of her government to ensure their welfare.

“The expatriate Bangladeshis have special contributions to boosting forex reserves. Especially the role of the workers in this regard is great. So, it’s our duty to look after their betterment,” she said.

The prime minister said the expatriates are also playing an important role in infrastructural development and economy of those countries where they are working.

She made the remarks while addressing a function in Bandar Seri Begawan on Tuesday morning marking the foundation laying stone of the new Chancery Building of Bangladesh High Commission at the Diplomatic Enclave at Jalan Kebangsaan in the Brunei capital.

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 giving priority to construct its own mission buildings where the number of expatriates Bangladeshis is higher.

“Bangladesh missions will have their own buildings in every country in phases,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said she has already given directives for establishing at least one Bangladeshi school in every country where large number of Bangladeshi expatriates are living so that their children can pursue study 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 Bangladesh missions.

But 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 for construction of its own missions in different countries, including the USA, India and Japan, she said.

“We also took decisions to buy lands for construction of our own missions in different countries,” she added.

Lauding the architectural design of Bangladesh’s Chancery Building in Brunei, the prime minister put emphasis on construction of the mission building by keeping consistency with local weather, environment and other 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 of the building, BSS reported.

“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 by 18 months.

The prime minister said her government is constructing Bangladesh missions one after another. “The construction work of Bangladesh’s Chancery Building in Italy has almost been completed,” she said, adding that she will visit Italy to open the building.

Terming Brunei a very beautiful country, she said there are many places like Brunei which 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.

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