Let\\\'s build skilled workforce to replace foreign workers

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith while presenting the 2015-16 budget on June 04, 2015 said many foreigners are employed in our local industrial establishments. A section of them is illegal. He sounded a note of warning and said the establishments employing illegal foreign workforce would have to pay additional tax from next financial year i.e. effective from July 1. He proposed to impose 50 per cent more of the existing rate of fine or Tk 5,00,000 whichever is higher on those establishments for employing illegal foreign workers.
The Finance Minister said in spite of a huge number of our youth remaining unemployed, illegal foreign manpower is being employed here in a big way. Many of the foreigners do not come under any tax net. The government started registering them from last year. This time arrangement has been made to assess regular tax on them.
He further said not only tax would increase on these establishments but also some of various facilities they are enjoying would be reduced. He proposed to withdraw all types of tax facilities to these establishments. Simultaneously, penal actions would be taken against the owners of these establishments to award exemplary punishment, such as, imprisonment and fine.
It was revealed by the Centre for Policy Dialogue on January 3 that Bangladesh is the fifth largest remittance source for India, with around $3.7 billion sent there in 2013. The amount is expected to increase in the coming years. May we have the current figure from the Bangladesh Bank? It is not known if the CPD has since made any recommendation as how to curb it and why it occurred. At present, there are hundreds of thousands of Indian nationals working in the country, as per Silicon India. The updating of figure with sectoral break-up, say garments, private universities and so on, are urgently needed, which the  Bangladesh Bank and the Information Commission may provide to the citizens as matter of their right to know.
While we're thankful to the minister for his belated response and wish its implementation in letter and spirit, we're worried over whether his voyage next fiscal will be safe and sound against the vested quarters galore in all layers of administration and society, to reach his declared goal. We've seen his statement has been well-taken by the suffering guardians and the unemployed university degree holders, mostly from private universities who've spent a lot of money from their meagre resources in pursuing their higher studies. The universities assured them of jobs in industries and services.
There are millions of unemployed youths. Sufferings of the unemployed need to be addressed simultaneously by the concerned ministries; else angry youth might destabilise the society. The unemployed youth may be inclined to join the cadres of militants and anti-social elements.
The Transparency International Bangladesh has raised its voice against low quality education being imparted in many educational institutions of the country but to no effect. Would it be possible for the TIB to be vocal against partisan politics of teachers and students which is at the root of our failure to produce enlightened educated manpower needed by the country in all spheres including industries and business houses?
Any amount of money spent on training from public fund would be useless and counter-productive unless higher, secondary and primary levels of education are cleaned to restore traditional glory at the level now prevailing in our next-door neighbour Paschim Banga.
Most of foreign workers in the country are from neighbouring India and Sri Lanka. It is said there is serious dearth of skilled manpower in middle and higher levels in various sectors of the economy. This is forcing local companies and firms to employ such workers. We need to establish a National Skill Development Authority for coordination of all training courses as per the country's needs.
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