PM urges expats to abide by laws of countries where they live
PM urges expats to abide by laws of countries where they live
Terming the expatriate Bangladeshis the 'Golden Human of Bangladesh', Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged them to abide by the laws of the countries where they live so that Bangladesh’s image gets brightened abroad.
"The country’s image is getting destroyed for some people…so please abide the laws and rules of the countries where you live," she said while addressing a reception accorded to her by the expatriates in Abu Dhabi.
Bangladesh Embassy in the UAE organised the reception at the St Regis hotel with Ambassador Mohammad Imran in the chair.
Hasina said she does not want to see that the country’s image built by the government through various pragmatic steps getting tarnished for some people. "It’s true some people have done something (wrong) for which all the expatriates are suffering. I’m requesting you to remain careful so that such incidents never take place," she said.
Recalling the valuable support of the expatriates in all achievements of the country, the prime minister said their contributions to Bangladesh’s economic growth are very important.
Talking about the January-5 election, she said there had been too much of conspiracy just before that polls. "There were so many games to make us corrupt," she said.
In this connection, the prime minister said there was an allegation of corruption over the Padma Bridge project for this before releasing fund by the World Bank. "The allegation was not for corruption, it was the allegation of conspiracy for corruption and there were so many games with the imposing this allegation," she said.
Hasina went on saying, “But, we had thrown a challenge that there was no corruption in the Padma Bridge project and then clearly said we don’t need any fund from others, and we’ll construct the bridge with our own financing.”
Responding to the expatriates’ demand to cast their votes from abroad, the premier said the Election Commission is taking steps in this regard. "But you know this is a complicated process and the governments of the countries you are living now are involved in this matter. We have to take permission from the governments of these countries," she said.
Briefly describing various developments activities of her government, Hasina said Bangladesh is now a role model in the world and it is moving forward fast.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain also spoke at the programme.
Later, the prime minister attended dinner hosted by Minister for Culture, Youth and Social Development of the UAE and chairman of Abu Dhabi Group Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan at his residence.