Maintain goodwill: Hasina to expatriates

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has appealed to migrant workers from Bangladesh in West Asia to be law-abiding.

Sumon Mahbub, from Abu Dhabibdnews24.com
Published : 26 Oct 2014, 05:23 PM
Updated : 26 Oct 2014, 06:52 PM

"I want you to keep Bangladesh's reputation intact. If you break laws, you will suffer, none else," Hasina told a reception in her honour at Abu Dhabi by Bangladesh expatriates.

Then she warned: "I suppose you know what happens when you break laws here."

Hasina said it was incumbent on all to respect and abide by laws of the country one was living in.

"Earlier Bangladeshis had a reputation as decent migrants. But some have spoiled that."

The Bangladesh embassy arranged for this reception at Hotel St Regis in Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening.

Speaking before the prime minister, the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharaff Hossain said there was a growing trust deficit between Bangladeshi migrants and locals everywhere.

"Some of our people are getting involved in illegal activities. That is creating problems for the whole community."

He appealed to all expatriates to ensure that Bangladesh is not inconvenienced in labour exports in future.

Sheikh Hasina lauded the role of expatriates and migrant labour in putting Bangladesh's economy on a solid footing.

She said the Election Commission was trying to explore ways to ensure voting by expatriates who had retained Bangladesh citizenship.

The prime minister also welcomed the expatriates to go back and invest in Bangladesh.