PM asks missions to act fast to solve expats' problems
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Monday directed the country's missions abroad to be fully active in solving the problems of Bangladeshi expatriates, as many migrants aired grievances about the state of diplomacy, report UNB and BSS.
She also instructed the ministries concerned to keep watch on activities of the Bangladesh embassies, high commissions and consulate offices to keep them on stream.
The Prime Minister gave the directives at the cabinet meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat, two days after her return from Saudi Arabia, where expatriates had apprised her of their problems, and she worked out some solutions in consultation with the Saudi government officials.
The meeting, with Sheikh Hasina in the chair, also approved in principal eight proposed bills, following which the Prime Minister will no more be chancellor of seven public universities.
At present, out of a total of 31 public universities in the country, Hasina is the chancellor of seven - Kushtia Islami University, National University, Open University, Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University, Jagannath University, National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University (Mymensingh) and Sylhet Agriculture University.
Besides, Terrestrial Telecast Facilities Preservation for Bangladesh Television Act 2009 was approved by the cabinet, exclusively reserving the right to the state-run TV.
Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad at a post-meeting briefing said BTV will continue to get terrestrial facilities, as it is a state institution.
The BTV will use the terrestrial facilities for spread of education, flourishing of culture and heritage, and disseminating development message to the people. "Others will not get the facility," Azad said.
"If necessary, BTV will launch another separate channel to telecast the parliamentary activities and educational programmes," Azad quoted PM Hasina as saying.
Addressing her colleagues at the first cabinet meeting after PM's return from the visit to Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh expatriates in Makkah raised various allegations in public against the ambassador and officials of the Bangladesh Embassy and Consulate office over there.
"Not only from Saudi Arabia, we have received allegation of negligence of duty against embassy officials from many other countries," she was quoted as saying by Azad.
The Prime Minister said the embassy and consulate officials should change their attitude and mentality, and concentrate on well being of the expatriates whose hard-earned money keeps the country's economy vibrant.
Sheikh Hasina informed the cabinet about pros and cons of her April 21-25 visit to Saudi Arabia.
She expressed her happiness, as the Saudi government has settled the problem related to transfer of 'akama' (work permit).
On April 21, the Saudi King and the Saudi Foreign Minister in Riyadh informed the PM that their cabinet had decided to allow transfer of akama of the expatriates.
Sheikh Hasina during her visit was highly praised among the Bangladeshi expatriates for her role in solving the problem of akama transfer.
The PM also informed the cabinet that she sought lands in Makkah and Madina to set up dormitories for accommodation of hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh.
Taking the problem of education of the expatriates' children in Saudi Arabia into account, she further said the government would take initiatives to establish two schools in Makkah and Madinah.
She also instructed the ministries concerned to keep watch on activities of the Bangladesh embassies, high commissions and consulate offices to keep them on stream.
The Prime Minister gave the directives at the cabinet meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat, two days after her return from Saudi Arabia, where expatriates had apprised her of their problems, and she worked out some solutions in consultation with the Saudi government officials.
The meeting, with Sheikh Hasina in the chair, also approved in principal eight proposed bills, following which the Prime Minister will no more be chancellor of seven public universities.
At present, out of a total of 31 public universities in the country, Hasina is the chancellor of seven - Kushtia Islami University, National University, Open University, Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University, Jagannath University, National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University (Mymensingh) and Sylhet Agriculture University.
Besides, Terrestrial Telecast Facilities Preservation for Bangladesh Television Act 2009 was approved by the cabinet, exclusively reserving the right to the state-run TV.
Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad at a post-meeting briefing said BTV will continue to get terrestrial facilities, as it is a state institution.
The BTV will use the terrestrial facilities for spread of education, flourishing of culture and heritage, and disseminating development message to the people. "Others will not get the facility," Azad said.
"If necessary, BTV will launch another separate channel to telecast the parliamentary activities and educational programmes," Azad quoted PM Hasina as saying.
Addressing her colleagues at the first cabinet meeting after PM's return from the visit to Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh expatriates in Makkah raised various allegations in public against the ambassador and officials of the Bangladesh Embassy and Consulate office over there.
"Not only from Saudi Arabia, we have received allegation of negligence of duty against embassy officials from many other countries," she was quoted as saying by Azad.
The Prime Minister said the embassy and consulate officials should change their attitude and mentality, and concentrate on well being of the expatriates whose hard-earned money keeps the country's economy vibrant.
Sheikh Hasina informed the cabinet about pros and cons of her April 21-25 visit to Saudi Arabia.
She expressed her happiness, as the Saudi government has settled the problem related to transfer of 'akama' (work permit).
On April 21, the Saudi King and the Saudi Foreign Minister in Riyadh informed the PM that their cabinet had decided to allow transfer of akama of the expatriates.
Sheikh Hasina during her visit was highly praised among the Bangladeshi expatriates for her role in solving the problem of akama transfer.
The PM also informed the cabinet that she sought lands in Makkah and Madina to set up dormitories for accommodation of hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh.
Taking the problem of education of the expatriates' children in Saudi Arabia into account, she further said the government would take initiatives to establish two schools in Makkah and Madinah.