Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry and recruiting agencies to take care of Bangladeshi expatriates.

"I request you one thing that those who're involved in manpower migration -- from the recruiting agencies to the ministry -- to give them [expatriates] due honour and make sure they're not facing any problem," she said while addressing a programme virtually marking the International Migration Day 2020 from the Gono Bhaban.

The expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry organised the event at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC). 

Hasina said everything has to be looked after by the recruiting agencies and the ministry for those who are willing to go abroad. "Ensure their security, especially the female migrant workers." 

About the homebound expatriates who have lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic, she said the government is taking care of them and there is no reason to be upset.

The government is providing stimulus packages while Karmasangsthan Bank, Palli Sanchay Bank and SME Foundation are there to provide them loans so that they could start their own businesses. 

Hasina said there are many mega projects going on in the country and many people are working there. "They're gaining experience working in these projects and the experience will be helpful for them both at home and abroad."    

She also urged the country's people not to step into the path of darkness falling prey to middlemen. 

The PM called upon all to get enlisted and wait with patience to get the desired jobs through proper and legal channels. 

She said if the migrant workers fall in trouble being instigated by someone, it will be very much painful and dangerous for the persons and their families.

In this regard, she recalled the deaths of some migrant workers in Libya and hoped that such incidents would not happen in the future.

There are no scarcity of jobs and food in the country, the PM said, suggesting that people should go abroad for jobs after getting registered.

Hasina also put emphasis on receiving proper training before going abroad in search for jobs.  

She mentioned that there are some people who manage certificates without getting proper training and they face problems once they land in a foreign country.  

"I think that without doing this if anyone takes the training with sincerity, then that person will not face any harassment abroad. All have to pay attention to that, the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry should be more vigilant to this end," Hasina said. 

The PM said the government is taking various initiatives to make the country economically stronger and self-reliant.  

"We're on the path of attaining economic self-reliance, we're constructing 100 economic zones … there'll be no scarcity of work here also. We'll also have skilled workers, foreign investment is coming," she said. 

Hasina also briefly described various steps of the government taken for the welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates. 

Bangladesh has set the theme -- "Mujib Borsho er Ahoban, Dokkho Hoye Bidesh Jan" (The call of Mujib Year, go abroad after becoming skilled). 

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad and Secretary Ahmed Munirus Saleheen also spoke at the programme. 

Earlier, Imran Ahmad, on behalf of the prime minister, distributed education scholarship cheques among the children of Bangladeshi expatriates and commercially important persons crests among the expatriates for sending higher amount of remittance through the legal channel and investing in the country.