On travel tax and manpower export

The government has raised the international travel tax rate. The majority of the people who travel abroad are migrant workers, and it will be difficult for them to bear the extra cost. The migration cost the Bangladeshi workers bear is much higher than that in any of our neighbouring countries. Had it been minimal, more young people could go abroad. The government should not increase the travel tax for the migrant workers as most of them come from poor families. While going abroad they borrow money at high interest rates. So it is just like putting extra burdens on their shoulders. The migrant workers are an important source of our foreign exchange earnings. There are various ways the government can increase revenue earnings. Instead of enhancing travel tax, the government can better explore the opportunities of manpower export to more foreign destinations. This will fatten our foreign exchange reserve as well as keep the wheels of development in motion. Many developed countries are facing shortages of skilled human resources. We have to take effective diplomatic steps so that we can export our manpower to those countries. At the same time, at home, steps must be taken for producing skilled manpower.

Akmal Hossain

Narayanganj