Remittance is playing a crucial role in mitigating the impact of the current turbulent global economy. Bangladesh ranks third among South Asian countries in receiving remittances. Statistics indicate that the total amount of remittances received by the country in the last five fiscal years is US$102.03 billion, which significantly contributed to the GDP. But despite their significant contribution, how much does the state care for the well-being of the expatriates?
Recently, we have seen expatriate workers in various countries landed in trouble by showing support for protesting students in Bangladesh. A court in the United Arab Emirates sentenced dozens of Bangladeshi nationals to prison, including three for life imprisonment, over protests against their government in the Gulf country. The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal on Sunday handed 10-year prison sentences to 53 Bangladeshi nationals and an 11-year term to another Bangladeshi national, in addition to the three life imprisonments. The court ordered the deportation of the Bangladeshis from the UAE following their prison terms. Sadly, the government did not come to their support to help them escape punishment.
Expatriates go abroad through their own efforts to provide for their families, often enduring various hardships. Even while abroad, they lead a constrained life, toiling at work, cooking meals, and managing household chores. Most expatriates dedicate all their earnings to ensure the well-being of their family members back home, without spending anything extra for themselves. This sacrifice greatly benefits the state. They hope for a better future upon returning home. But do they ever have that opportunity?
The Bangladesh government has introduced a special programme under the National Pension Scheme for remittance earners. However, there is a need to make this programme more appealing. If the skills and experiences gained by expatriates in their workplaces abroad are utilised in the country and they are provided opportunities for secure investments, their concerns about the future would diminish significantly.
Additionally, establishing special expatriate service centres in each district is imperative to ensure that expatriates do not encounter hassles in processing documents like passports, NID cards, birth certificates, medical services, and other documents. In some cases, these individuals exhaust their whole life in pursuit of financial stability for their families.
But when they face undue hardship, for example, the instance of life-term imprisonment simply for protesting, it is urgent that the relevant authorities take all out measures to free them. Showing moral support to a protest against injustice must not be considered a crime.
Amir Hamza
Mohakhali, Dhaka.