NRBs' contributions to nat'l economy extolled
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
FE Report
Speakers at a roundtable Monday said non-resident Bangladeshis (NRB) have been contributing much to the country's economy and social development since independence though their problems are overlooked by the country's policy makers.
NRB representatives from different countries, policy makers, business leaders, journalists participated in the roundtable titled "40 years of independence: expatriates' contribution, social and economic thoughts" organised by Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshis at a city restaurant.
All the NRB representatives came down heavily on Bangladesh missions in different countries alleging that they are not taking responsibility of expatriate Bangladeshis.
"Forgetting their duties on foreign land, all of them -- clerks to ambassadors -- are engaged in personal activities, providing VIP treatment to country's political leaders," they alleged.
"NRBs are keen to invest in the country. The government should come forward to provide facility for the investment," they said.
Shekil Chowdhury, Chairman of the Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshis said some 10 million Bangladeshis are now living in world's 186 countries. They sent Tk 55 million as remittance to the country in 2011.
He said the expatriate Bangladeshis are eager to send their money through official channel, but those are hardly available.
Khondokar Ibrahim Khaled, Chairman of Bangladesh Krishi Bank and former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank said NRBs can set up a business conglomerate in the country where they will invest their hard-earned money.
Khondokar Ibrahim Khaled urged the government to ease rules in opening new branches of bank abroad.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Asif Ibrahim said macro economy has totally failed in Bangladesh. There is no new investment in the country as there is no money in the banks.
"If such situation continues, I think government will not be able to give salary to the government employees," he said.
Blaming rental power plant for the present state of economy, he opined that the government needs some 5.0 billion US dollar to stabilise economy at this moment.
"Only foreign direct investment can salvage our economy," he added.
Editor of the daily Manabzamin Motiur Rahman Chowdhury said the government should solve problems of NRBs on a priority basis.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan said the government always wants to stay beside expatriate Bangladeshis, but he admitted that they cannot do everything as per demand due to many constraints.
Former Adviser of Caretaker Government Rasheda K Chowdhury said women are getting less priority in getting overseas jobs from the government.
Managing Director of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited Abdul Mannan said as 65 per cent of expatriate Bangladeshis are working in the Gulf States government should send efficient ambassadors there.
He said Islami Bank is serving Bangladeshi workers in foreign land with its 47 branches and the bank is committed to speed up the service.
Bikalpadhara Secretary-General Maj (retd.) Abdul Mannan, Jatiya Party Presidium Member Kazi Firoz Rashid, Jatiya Party (Manju) Secretary-General Sheikh Shahidul Islam, Policy Research Institute president Dr. Ahsan Manjur, Gazipur District Administrator Akhtaruzzaman, NRB United Arab Emirates representative Dr. Zahur Alam, USA representative Zillur Rahman Khan, KSA representative Kaptan Hossain, Canada representative Dr. Abdul Malek, UK representative Bazlur Rashid also spoke at the roundtable.
Speakers at a roundtable Monday said non-resident Bangladeshis (NRB) have been contributing much to the country's economy and social development since independence though their problems are overlooked by the country's policy makers.
NRB representatives from different countries, policy makers, business leaders, journalists participated in the roundtable titled "40 years of independence: expatriates' contribution, social and economic thoughts" organised by Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshis at a city restaurant.
All the NRB representatives came down heavily on Bangladesh missions in different countries alleging that they are not taking responsibility of expatriate Bangladeshis.
"Forgetting their duties on foreign land, all of them -- clerks to ambassadors -- are engaged in personal activities, providing VIP treatment to country's political leaders," they alleged.
"NRBs are keen to invest in the country. The government should come forward to provide facility for the investment," they said.
Shekil Chowdhury, Chairman of the Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshis said some 10 million Bangladeshis are now living in world's 186 countries. They sent Tk 55 million as remittance to the country in 2011.
He said the expatriate Bangladeshis are eager to send their money through official channel, but those are hardly available.
Khondokar Ibrahim Khaled, Chairman of Bangladesh Krishi Bank and former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank said NRBs can set up a business conglomerate in the country where they will invest their hard-earned money.
Khondokar Ibrahim Khaled urged the government to ease rules in opening new branches of bank abroad.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Asif Ibrahim said macro economy has totally failed in Bangladesh. There is no new investment in the country as there is no money in the banks.
"If such situation continues, I think government will not be able to give salary to the government employees," he said.
Blaming rental power plant for the present state of economy, he opined that the government needs some 5.0 billion US dollar to stabilise economy at this moment.
"Only foreign direct investment can salvage our economy," he added.
Editor of the daily Manabzamin Motiur Rahman Chowdhury said the government should solve problems of NRBs on a priority basis.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan said the government always wants to stay beside expatriate Bangladeshis, but he admitted that they cannot do everything as per demand due to many constraints.
Former Adviser of Caretaker Government Rasheda K Chowdhury said women are getting less priority in getting overseas jobs from the government.
Managing Director of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited Abdul Mannan said as 65 per cent of expatriate Bangladeshis are working in the Gulf States government should send efficient ambassadors there.
He said Islami Bank is serving Bangladeshi workers in foreign land with its 47 branches and the bank is committed to speed up the service.
Bikalpadhara Secretary-General Maj (retd.) Abdul Mannan, Jatiya Party Presidium Member Kazi Firoz Rashid, Jatiya Party (Manju) Secretary-General Sheikh Shahidul Islam, Policy Research Institute president Dr. Ahsan Manjur, Gazipur District Administrator Akhtaruzzaman, NRB United Arab Emirates representative Dr. Zahur Alam, USA representative Zillur Rahman Khan, KSA representative Kaptan Hossain, Canada representative Dr. Abdul Malek, UK representative Bazlur Rashid also spoke at the roundtable.