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Published on October 26, 2014
Terming the expatriate Bangladeshis as the "Golden sons of Bangladesh," she urged them to refrain from doing anything which can tarnish the image of country abroad.
The Prime Minister made the call when addressing a reception of Bangladesh Community arranged by the Bangladesh Embassy in UAE at the Ball Room of St. Regis Hotel in Abu Dhabi Sunday night.
Sheikh Hasina said every programme of her governemt is to ensure the welfare of the countrymen.
She requested the expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in different sectors in Bangladesh taking the advantage of attractiive incentive packages offered by the present government.
She said the present governemnt is creating facilities for the businessmen as the governemnt is not doing business for its own. Contribution of the expatriates is very significant for the economic growth of the county, she added.
Referring various congenial steps for foreign direct investment in Bangladesh, she suggested them to invest in the counry as expatriate Bangladeshi or as a citizen of the country.
The Prime Minister mentioned various programmes for the expatriate Bangladeshis including the establishment of Expatriate Welfare Bank, NRB Bank, digital facilities for sending remittance, and modern technologies to communicate with their relatives in Bangladesh.
She said the living standard of the people has been improved significantly, per capita income has been risen to US$ 1190, poverty reduced to below 25 percent and over five crore have been graduated to middle income group from low income group.
Sheikh Hasina asked them to help maintain the existing trend of development which has been initiated by the present government.
Talking about the January 5, 2014 election, she said that many conspiracies were hatched just before that election and so many games were played to portrait the government as corrupt.
In this connection, the Prime Minister said that there was an allegation of corruption regarding the Padma Bridge before releasing any fund for the project, which was not proved later.
The present government started the construction of the mega bridge with its own fund without depending on others, she said.
Highlighting her government steps in different sectors, she said top priority has been given to education with highest budgetary allocation. The government is providing stipends to 1.20 crore students, and textbooks are being provided free up to secondary level, she said.
Different types of allowances are being given to the elderly, widow, husband abandoned women and lactating mothers under social safety net programme.
Responding to demand of keeping quotas for the children of the expatriate in Bangladeshi universities, she said her government is taking steps to set up at least one university in every district either under government initiative or under the private management.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain also spoke on the occasion.
Later, the Prime Minister attended the dinner hosted by Minister for Culture, Youth and Social Development of UAE and chairman of Abu Dhabi Group Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan at his palace.
-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)
Photo: Yeasin Kabir Joy
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