Prime Minister's Public Administration Adviser Md Ismail Zabihullah said today (27 September) that the government is creating a favorable environment for foreign investment as part of its ongoing efforts to rebuild the country and implement economic reforms.
"Attracting foreign investment and strengthening the country's economic foundation have been made among the government's top priorities in its new journey," he said.
He made the remarks at a view-exchange meeting organised by Malaysia BNP and its affiliated and associate organisations in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, according to a press release received here today.
Zabihullah, who is also a member of the BNP Standing Committee, has called upon Malaysian investors, expatriate Bangladeshi businessmen, successful entrepreneurs, and new investors to make substantial investments in Bangladesh.
He stated that the government would extend all-out cooperation to the strong Bangladeshi business community and young entrepreneurs based in Malaysia to enable them to participate in new economic activities and expand their investments in Bangladesh.
More than 1.5 million Bangladeshis are currently working in Malaysia, he said, adding that their knowledge, experience and skills could play an important role in the country's development.
The adviser specifically urged expatriate Bangladeshis possessing expertise in various fields to return home and contribute to the nation's development activities.
He said the journey of manpower export from Bangladesh began through the initiative of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to send skilled workers to the Middle East. Currently, more than 10 million Bangladeshis are working in different countries across the world, he added.
"Their hard work and remittances play an important role in keeping the country's economy moving," Zabihullah said. He added that remittances are one of the major driving forces of the economy.
He stated that it is the government's responsibility to properly recognize the contributions and sacrifices of expatriate Bangladeshis and to ensure their welfare.
Zabihullah further said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has taken an initiative to launch a "Probashi Card" to strengthen and institutionalise the relationship between the state and expatriate Bangladeshis.
He stated that the government has also implemented various initiatives to reduce the harassment of expatriates at airports while ensuring easier, safer, and more dignified services for them.
The adviser stated that initiatives have also been undertaken to establish separate housing and investment opportunities for expatriates. These activities will commence in Sylhet and will subsequently be expanded to other regions of the country, he added.
He said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is working to build a modern, efficient and people-friendly Bangladesh.
To this end, opportunities will be created for expatriates to invest more easily and for young people to access world-class education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities in their own country, he said.
Zabihullah stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman envisions transforming Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034. He added that the investments, talent, and experience of expatriate Bangladeshis will play an important role in achieving this goal.
During the meeting, representatives from academia, researchers, technologists, and women entrepreneurs based in Malaysia, alongside leaders from various BNP-affiliated and associate organisations, highlighted the diverse problems and expectations faced by expatriate Bangladeshis.
They urged the government to take effective measures to improve employment and working conditions for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, simplify passport and other consular services, and address issues concerning the interests of expatriate Bangladeshis.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Manzurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, Malaysia BNP President Engineer Badlur Rahman Badal, Senior Vice-President Md Mahbub Alam Shah, and General Secretary Md Mosharraf Hossain, among others, addressed the meeting.
Why it matters
The government's push to secure diaspora investment and welfare support directly impacts Bangladesh's strategy to achieve its trillion-dollar economic target by 2034.