The annual remittance, which was only $2.2 billion in 2001, has gradually increased, thanks to a number of measures to develop banking system for sending money though official channels and growth in migration of skilled manpower, the state minister pointed out. The country received nearly $4 billion in remittances last year.

He was speaking at a consultation titled 'Policy for ensuring labour migration within and beyond South Asia' jointly organised by Safe Migration Action Forum and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Dhaka.

The regional forum, comprised of representatives from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan, is facilitated by South Asian Regional Initiative/Gender Equality (SARI/Equality).

Tasneem Siddiqui, chair of Refugee and Migratory Movement and Research Unity (RMMRU) of Dhaka University, said foreign remittances sent by the Bangladeshis are increasing.

Delhi-based SARI/Equality's Chief of Party Helga Klein said once formulated, South Asian regional migration policy can be a strong voice in the international level that will enable the region to gain in the migration-related negotiations.