Urging the people of the country to not resort to the risky path of going abroad illegally, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina advises rather to migrate legally by the opportunities created by the government.
Her call came on Tuesday (May 26) while addressing a reception in Tokyo by the expatriate Bangladeshis, reports BSS.
People sell their houses and properties to step into the uncertain path of going abroad without even knowing the details, she said before adding: “It’s true that people can spin their wheel of fortune for the better, which benefits the country ... But migrating illegally is totally unnecessary.”
Hasina said the government has introduced a registration system in all digital centres across the country for overseas jobseekers and their lists will be preserved at the Expatriate Welfare Ministry. “Anyone can go abroad after checking the nature of job, salary and other necessary information regarding the job.”
Overseas jobseekers do not need to sell off properties any more as the government has set up the Prabashi Kalyan Bank where they can get loans on low interest, she said.
“With so many opportunities, I see no point on spending hundreds of thousands of taka and die in the sea,” she said before adding that setting up a small business with that fund is a way better option.
Highlighting the contributions of expatriates towards the country’s development, the prime minister urged them to invest in their homeland.
Describing the relations between Bangladesh and Japan as heart-to-heart ones, Hasina said Japan is a friendly nation to Bangladesh since its independence in 1971, reported UNB.
"Japan is our trusted friend, we’ve excellent relations now, our export to Japan is increasing …their investment in Bangladesh is also increasing… make sure that this excellent relationship continues," she was quoted saying by the news agency.
"They (Japan) have made huge investment in Bangladesh and we want more Japanese investment in our country," Hasina said.
She also mentioned about the Matarbari coal-based power plants in Cox's Bazar and said the aim of the government is to develop Bangladesh socioeconomically.
Hasina said the poverty rate in the country has declined significantly over the last 10 years during the tenure of her government while the literacy rate increased. “Bangladesh is now a food surplus country.”
“To develop every sector, the government has taken long-term plans as we’ve come to power to serve people…we’re the servants of people,” she said.
Hasina said her aim is to bring smile to the faces of poor people, which was the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Following the footsteps of Bangabandhu, she said her government has been able to turn Bangladesh into a developing county and it has the conviction to make the country as the developed one.