Expatriate Bank for safe migration soon: PM

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Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Tuesday said the government will set up Expatriate Bank for safe migration of Bangladeshi workers to overseas job markets, as she discussed with business leaders the country's latest socioeconomic situation, reports UNB.
She announced this and some other plans when a delegation of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) led by its President Jafar Osman called on her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at noon.
"Bangladeshi workers interested to go abroad can take loan from the expatriate bank. They will go abroad taking loan from the bank and then gradually pay the money back," Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told newsmen after the meeting, quoting the PM.
Azad said the Prime Minister wants to set up the expatriate bank to protect people from sufferings as many people have to sell their lands, and even homes, to manage necessary money for going abroad.
The DCCI delegation expressed dissatisfaction as they said any DCCI representative was not included in the recently formed national taskforce to monitor the current global economic recession and take necessary steps to protect the country from its adverse impacts.
They informed the Prime Minister about various problems in conducting their trade and business. She assured them of all necessary cooperation in this regard.
Hasina urged the businessmen to go all out for increasing exports of diversified products, specially organic foods.
"The government attaches equal importance to public and private sectors for overall development of the country," she told her business audience.
Hasina apprised them that the government has taken steps for dredging the Mongla Port channel down to the bay and build the long-awaited Padma Bridge.
Besides, she said, initiatives will be taken for infrastructure development of Cox's Bazar and Kuakata sea-beach resorts to develop the country's tourism sector.
The Premier said the new government's main aim is to ensure people's economic emancipation through democracy. She sought the businessmen's help in building up a modern and prosperous Bangladesh.
While discussing the recent economic situation of the country, the business leaders requested the Prime Minister for ensuring uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity for advancing the industrialisation process.
The businessmen highly praised the Prime Minister for her wisdom and farsightedness in tackling the recent BDR crisis peacefully and quickly.
PMO Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman was present during the meeting.