Home ›› 29 Jul 2021 ›› Front
The government on Wednesday approved a Tk 427-crore project to rehabilitate two lakh expatriates who have lost jobs and returned to the country in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020.
Under this project, the government is going to provide Tk 13,500 in grants to each of 2,00,000 migrant workers in a bid to rehabilitate them.
The one-time cash assistance will be provided to the returnee migrant workers under a project titled ‘The Recovery and Advancement of Informal Sector Employment: Reintegration of Returning Migrants’ of the ministry of expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment.
The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council at its maiden meeting of the fiscal year 2021-22, held at its conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Wednesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Gonobhaban.
According to a government estimate, around five lakh migrant workers lost their jobs and returned to the country in more than a year due to the effects of Covid-19. The information was revealed during a press conference following the meeting of the National Economic Council’s executive committee.
The ECNEC meeting earlier approved a total of 10 projects with an estimated cost of Tk 2,575.42 crore. Out of the 10 projects, seven are new while the rest three are revised projects.
Of the total project cost, Tk 2,150.42 crore will come from the government exchequer while the rest of Tk 425 crore will come as project assistance, planning minister MA Mannan told the reporters during a press conference following the meeting of NEC executive committee.
Addressing the press conference, planning minister Mannan said, “Migrant workers will get Tk 13,500 each along with their respective career counselling as part of our bid to help them find their jobs or to become entrepreneurs.”
In this regard, the minister said some 23,500-selected skilled workers will be given certificates by the reputed institutions so that they can gain more opportunities both at home and abroad.
The Wage Earners Welfare Board under the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment will implement the Tk 427 crore project by December 2023. The World Bank will provide Tk 425 crore as loan for the implementation of the project, said Mannan.
The minister recalled the huge contribution of these expatriate workers who have returned home from abroad due to various reasons.
Addressing the press conference, state minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said, “Around five lakh expatriate workers have so far returned home while two lakh returnee workers will be benefited under this project.”
Shamsul Alam also said a database of all returnee migrant workers would be created and assistance would be provided considering their financial state.
Planning Commission member Sharifa Khan said, “Initially two lakh returnee workers will be included under this project, areas of which would be extended further soon.”
“When migrant workers return from abroad, they are registered. According to that information, 4.80 lakh migrant workers have returned. On the basis of that, it was said that about five lakh expatriates have returned,” she added.
The project will cover 32 districts-Dhaka, Tangail, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Pabna, Bogura, Naogaon, Rajshahi, Sirajganj, Barishal, Patuakhali, Kushtia, Jashore, Khulna, Feni, Noakhali, Chandpur, Chattogram, Brahmanbaria, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Cumilla, Sylhet, and Sunamganj.
According to ministry sources, more than 1.75 crore Bangladeshis are now working in 175 countries across the world. Around 4,08,408 migrant workers returned home amid the pandemic in 2020.
The nine other projects approved by the ECNEC are- Tk 568.93 crore project to construct three underpasses on Dhaka-Chattagram Highway and U loop at Paduarbazar intersection, Tk 146.87 crore project to construct Bangladesh Chancery Building at Canberra in Australia, 3rd revision of district-wise female computer training project with an additional cost of Tk 31.82 crore, embankment protection work of the river Padma at various places under Louhajang and Tongibari upazilas at Munshiganj district with Tk 446.12 crore, BSCIC Food Processing Industrial Estate in Thakurgaon to be implemented with a cost of Tk 98.61 crore, 1st revision of reconstruction and rehabilitation of iron bridges in the southern part of the country with an additional cost of Tk 498.30 crore, full-fledged pediatric cardiology and pediatric surgery unit will be installed at BSMMU with Tk 72.09 crore, upgrading district highways with due standard and width, Mymensingh Zone, 1st revision with an additional cost of Tk 111.58 crore, modernization and expansion of services and research facilities of Institute of Tissue Banking and Biomaterial Research with a cost of Tk 173.80 crore.
