Govt takes projects for expats’ welfare

The government has taken a number of initiatives to ensure wellbeing of the Bangladeshi expatriates who are greatly contributing to the country’s economy. 

The projects that the government is planning to introduce include setting up technical training centres, specialised hospitals, residential schools, housing projects and a specialised insurance company.

According to an official document, a project is being implemented to set up 40 technical training centres in 40 upazilas across the country in the first phase, reports a local news agency.

Steps have been taken to construct 50 more training centres in 50 upazilas. 

“Gradually, training centres will be set up in all the upazials," the document shows.

It also says the government will construct two modern specialised hospitals (diagnostic hospitals) in Dhaka and Chittagong, prioritising the treatment of homecoming expatriates and their family members. 

Besides, there will be reserved seats in all the government hospitals for the expats.

There will be two residential schools in Dhaka and Chittagong in the first phase for ensuring education to the children of expatriates and of those returning home.

The government is also contemplating preserving a quota for the children of expatriates in educational institutions at all levels.

The document mentions that the government will take housing projects in the districts where the number of expatriates is comparatively higher.

"A process is on to construct buildings of nine schools and colleges run by the Bangladeshi community in Saudi Arabia," the document reads.

The government has taken a decision to form a specialised insurance company under the ownership of Expatriate Welfare Board to provide insurance facility to all the Bangladeshi expatriates.

There is a move to take a project for the employment of the family members of the expatriates who will die abroad.

To give various sorts of services, the government will set up an Expatriate Digital Centre (EDC) in Saudi Arabia taking assistance from the access to information (a2i) programme of the Prime Minister's Office.

The government will take steps to bring all diaspora living abroad under the facilities of Expatriate Welfare Board. Soon, the government will introduce ambulance services in Dhaka and Sylhet airports for the expatriates.

"The government will set up safe homes in phases in all Bangladeshi missions across the globe," the document added.

It mentioned that a plan is afoot to set up support centres in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dubai to help the trouble-stricken Bangladeshi workers there.

A senior official of the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry said the present government is very much serious and cordial regarding the welfare of the expatriates and their family members. "The government wants to improve the living standard of the expatriates and their family members through providing various facilities to them," he said.

Mentioning that the expatriates are one of the main strengths of the country's economy, the official said, "We're very much serious about giving them better services and changing their fate," he said.