Expats are our heroes; let's work together to build Smart Bangladesh: FM

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged all to work together and ensure greater participation of Bangladeshi expatriates to achieve the target of building a Smart Bangladesh by 2041. 

"Let's work together to build Sonar Bangla – Smart Bangladesh. We need to strengthen their (expatriate Bangladeshis) participation," he said while speaking at a function marking the "National Expatriates Day-2023 on Saturday.

He said steps have been taken for the greater welfare of the expatriate Bangladeshis and to enhance their dignity. "They are our heroes. We must recognise them," he added.

The foreign minister said Bangladesh's foreign currency reserve gets boosted with the remittances sent by the expatriate Bangladeshis.   

Momen, however, said Bangladesh's remittance inflow is lower than other countries and laid emphasis on sending trained and skilled people. "We need well-trained and more professional people."

The foreign minister also talked about three policy packages – economic diplomacy, public diplomacy and regional peace and stability.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, among others, spoke at the function organized by the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.