FE REPORT
The government has given more than Tk 19 million in aid of physically-challenged children of migrant workers in the past three years.
A total of 865 children have received the money since 2021 in various instalments, according to the Wage Earners' Welfare Board (WEWB).
Of the total number, 294 children were given the financial assistance in 2021, 148 in 2022, and 423 in 2023.
The board introduced the fund for the migrants' children with disabilities in 2021.
The WEWB formed a policy in 2020 in this regard aiming to strengthen the social security of migrants' families through providing financial assistance to their children.
"Allowance will be paid for a period of five years to the children with disabilities of migrant workers. The allowance will be Tk1,000 per month per person, and it will be paid on an yearly basis by cheque in favour of children or caregiver," the policy said.
The applicant has to submit the Suborno Nagorik identity card issued by the Social Service Office concerned as proof of disability assessment.
Besides, the father or mother should have a manpower clearance certificate from the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) or WEWB membership in favour of being a migrant worker.
However, the officials said they are not receiving the desired number of applications as many of the families of migrant workers are not informed about the allowance.
Some of them also submit incomplete documents for their applications. The board has taken different initiatives to inform the beneficiaries about the programme, they also added.
About 0.7 to 0.8 million Bangladeshis go abroad every year with jobs, BMET data showed.
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