Give expats their due honor and ensure their safety: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry and recruiting agencies to take care of Bangladeshi expatriates.

"Those who are involved in manpower migration -- from recruiting agencies to the ministry, I request you to give them (expats) the due honour and make sure they are not facing any problem," she said.

The prime minister said this while addressing a programme virtually marking International Migration Day 2020 on Wednesday from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry organised the programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).

Sheikh Hasina said everything has to be looked after by the recruiting agencies and the ministry for those who are willing to go abroad. "Ensure their security, especially the female migrant workers."

About the homebound expatriates who have lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic, she said the government is taking care of them and there is no reason to be concerned.

She said there are many mega projects going on in the country and many people are working there. "They're gaining experiences working in these projects and these experiences will be helpful for them both at home and abroad."

The prime minister also urged people of the country not to step on to the path of darkness, falling prey to middlemen.

She called upon all to get enlisted and wait with patience to get the desired jobs through proper and legal channels.

In this regard, she recalled the deaths of some migrant workers in Libya and hoped that such incidents would not happen in the future. "There's no scarcity of jobs and food in the country... Please don't run blindly after the golden deer; go abroad for jobs after getting registered."

Hasina put emphasis on receiving proper training before going abroad in search of jobs.

She mentioned that there are some people who manage a certificate without getting proper training and they face problems once they land in a foreign country.

"I think if anyone takes training with sincerity then that person will not face any harassment abroad. Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry should monitor this more," she said.

The prime minister said the government is taking various initiatives to make the country economically stronger and self-reliant.

"We're on the path of attaining economic self-reliance, we're constructing 100 economic zones...there'll be no scarcity of work here," she said.