Remittance Inflow: Holding on to surge is key

Stressing the importance of remittance in the country economy, Expatriates' Welfare Minister Imran Ahmad yesterday said Bangladesh needs to send more skilled workers abroad to hold on the surge in remittance inflow.

He made the remark while addressing a consultation programme at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka.

Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and Brac jointly organised the national level stakeholder consultation on "Safe Migration and Sustainable Reintegration in the Context of Covid-19 Crisis."

Addressing as chief guest, the minister said the remittance inflow in the current fiscal year was over 40 percent more than the same period in last fiscal year.

He also said that collective efforts from both government and non-government organisations for migration sector development were important for overcoming the Covid-19 situation.

All stakeholders have to come under one umbrella to fight the pandemic effectively, said the minister.

Chairing the event, Secretary Ahmed Munirus Saleheen of the ministry said they have taken various initiatives to fight the challenges in the sector those emerged amid the pandemic.

Welcoming the audience, BMET Director General Shamsul Alam said this year about 2.07 lakh migrant workers have employment abroad so far, whereas last year the number was a little over seven lakh.

Benjir Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies, said they were constructing an international standard training centre in Gazipur which was at the final stage.

"Once the country will have skilled workforce, foreign recruiters will come by themselves and bargain. We want reach to that stage," he said.

Brac Executive Director Asif Saleh said the country needs to create an effective database of skilled workforce.

Besides, steps have to be taken so that skilled workers can have employment in new labour markets, he added.

Nathalie Chuard, ambassador of Switzerland in Bangladesh, said her country will keep continuing its support to Bangladesh's migration sector.