Bangladeshi expatriates here have expressed interest to invest in reopening and reviving the country's closed and sick industries in line with the present government's plan to turn Bangladesh into a modern, self-reliant country by the year 2021.(UNB, Makkah)

In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assured the Bangladeshi expatriates of providing all necessary cooperation to make best use of their hard earned money through investment in various development sectors.

The Bangladeshi expatriates of Makkah at a reception at Hotel Intercontinental on Wednesday (April 22) pledged to extend every support to the three-month-old government to implement all its development plans and projects.

Hasina informed the gathering that the government has already decided to establish an 'Expatriate Bank' for safe migration of the Bangladeshi workers and proper utilization of the foreign exchange.

"You will be owners of the bank. Interested people will take loans from the bank and pay back the loan gradually from their income abroad… you won't have to sell your homes and lands to come abroad. We want your safe life," she said.

The expatriate bank will be set up for proper use of the fund lying idle in the Labour Ministry, she added.

Hasina also disclosed another plan of her government to launch housing projects in the districts across the country. She urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to invest also in the planned housing projects.

When the expatriates demanded inclusion of their names in the national voter list, the Prime Minister said the government would take necessary measures in this regard.

"We are thinking of not only to include you in the voter list, rather we'll take steps so that you can cast your votes directly from abroad," she said amid applause.

She said that to do away with any irregularities and to protect the workers from harassment, the government would soon introduce Machine Readable Passport (MRP).

"Moreover, we'll ensure that the Bangladeshi workers come abroad after knowing the laws and rules of foreign countries. I will ask the ministry concerned to introduce training programmes for the aspiring jobseekers."

At the function, the expatriate Bangladeshis alleged non-cooperation by the officials of Bangladesh Embassy and consulate offices here.

The Prime Minister assured the Bangladeshi expatriates of initiating investigation into the alleged negligence by the embassy and consulate offices in providing necessary cooperation to them.

"You just inform in writing about any type of negligence by the embassy officials. I assure you, the officials responsible will be found out and due action taken against them," she said.