Expats most important: Foreign Minister

Foreign minister A.H Mahmood Ali has said his government attaches “highest priority” to the well-being of the expatriate Bangladeshis.

Currently at New York to attend the UN High level Meeting under UNGA on ‘Culture of Peace’, Ali said the expatriates were making “enormous contribution” to Bangladesh’s economy.

He was interacting with the staff at Bangladesh's Consulate General in New York on Wednesday.

Consul General Md Shameem Ahsan briefed him about the activities of the mission.

Mahmood Ali has a special memory of New York as he was defected from Pakistan’s New York mission for mobilising support for Bangladesh's cause during the 1971 Liberation War.

He highlighted the policy priorities of the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his interaction with mission officials.

Talking on the consular and welfare issues, he said the government’s policy of digitalisation of consular services will make the services “more efficient”.

He appreciated the mission officials for their “dedicated services despite logistical and other constraints” and assured them of all-out support from the ministry.

Remittances from expatriates constitutes the second most important source of foreign exchange for Bangladesh. In the last fiscal year, Bangladesh got $ 14.22 billion in remittances.