Nurul Haque
We have taken initiative to launch expatriate card
Collected Photo
State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md. Nurul Haque Nur said the government has identified 11 sectors to address various problems faced by expatriates and ensure special benefits for them. The government has taken initiatives to ensure their honor and dignity by prioritizing these sectors. To this end, we have taken the initiative to launch an expatriate card.
He said the card is currently in the pilot phase. Its operations are being tested in various locations including Jordan, South Korea and several Middle Eastern countries.
He made the remarks while speaking as a special guest at the first session of a two-day conference organized at Hotel InterContinental in the capital on Tuesday to mark the 30th anniversary of the private organization RMMRU.
The Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) organized the two-day conference and cultural event titled “Sonar Manush Sammilon 2026” to mark 30 years of work on forced and voluntary migration and climate change induced displacement.
Speaking at the event, Nurul Haque said expatriates are our golden people. The government is taking various initiatives to ensure benefits for them and protect their dignity. In particular, efforts are being made to identify and resolve the longstanding problems faced by expatriates. When I was involved in various political processes starting with the student movement in 2008, I spoke directly with expatriates from different countries through Google Meet and Zoom. After discussions with them, I found that expatriates generally face three major problems.
Highlighting the problems faced by expatriates, the state minister said that first, people often have to seek the help of brokers even to obtain passports in Bangladesh. It is extremely important to stop broker networks and corruption in passport services. Second, many expatriates do not get the jobs they were promised after going abroad for work. After borrowing money to go overseas, they struggle to survive when they fail to find the expected employment. Third, they face various difficulties when seeking services at Bangladeshi embassies abroad. They have also reported other problems including mismanagement at airports.
He further said that alongside addressing these problems, the government has identified 11 sectors to ensure special benefits for expatriates. For now, initiatives are being taken to protect their honor and dignity by prioritizing these sectors. To this end, we have taken the initiative to launch an expatriate card. It is currently in the pilot phase. Its operations are being tested in various locations including Jordan, South Korea and several Middle Eastern countries.
The expatriate card will be usable for financial transactions as well as accessing various services. Plans are underway to make it easier for expatriates to access services by storing their basic information and facilitating access to Bangladeshi embassies abroad and various public and private institutions in the country. Special benefits for receiving medical treatment at public and private hospitals are also being considered.
The state minister said many expatriates face land related problems after returning home. Initiatives are being taken to provide faster services to resolve these issues. Discussions are underway with the relevant authorities to provide necessary services or remedies within a specified period, particularly within seven days. In addition, incentives are being provided to encourage expatriates to send remittances through legal channels. A 3 percent incentive is available for remittances sent through formal banking channels.
Referring to the interim government, Nurul Haque said irregularities and corruption in the banking and financial sectors under the previous government had created a crisis of public confidence in financial institutions. In this situation, initiatives are being taken to make Probashi Kallyan Bank under the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment more effective. Plans are underway to integrate the bank into regular banking operations. The expatriate card is also expected to be linked to the bank.
Probashi Kallyan Bank currently provides loans ranging from Tk 300,000 to Tk 1 million to expatriates. Expanding the scope of these loan facilities is under consideration. Plans are being made to support expatriates who wish to start businesses, launch ventures or take out loans to build homes after returning to Bangladesh. In this regard, priority is being given to making loans easier to obtain and more accessible.
We want expatriates to send remittances through legal channels. At the same time, the government is working to stop irregularities and illegal practices in the process of going abroad for employment. Various initiatives are being taken to address these problems.
Referring to young people, the state minister said various private organizations had played an important role in Bangladesh’s development over the past five decades. The prime minister has also acknowledged the contributions of these organizations to development on various occasions. Private organizations also play a role in the migration sector.
I hope their experience and achievements in this sector over the past three decades will continue to play an important role in Bangladesh’s development and in improving the migration system in the coming years. Young people have dreamed of a new Bangladesh with the aspiration for change. We must all play a responsible role in building that Bangladesh. We must work together to develop the country and fulfill people’s expectations.
