Migrant workers are among the largest and most significant contributors to the economic progress of Bangladesh. Each year, a substantial number of Bangladeshis migrate abroad in search of work, sending remittances back home. The remittances play a crucial role in alleviating poverty, ensuring food security, improving child nutrition, and enhancing education. These remittances not only support individual families but also contribute to stabilizing the balance of payments and maintain economic stability and growth. With around 1.5 crore Bangladeshis living in more than 176 countries, the global Bangladeshi diaspora is a vital force in the country's development.
Expatriate income stands as a cornerstone of Bangladesh's economy, providing a steady and essential influx of foreign exchange that plays a pivotal role in stabilizing the nation's foreign exchange reserves. This consistent flow of remittances not only supports economic stability but also contributes significantly to the country's overall financial health. In 1976, Bangladesh had a modest expatriate population of only 6,081 individuals, whose remittances totaled approximately $23.71 million. Since then, the Bangladeshi expatriate community has grown exponentially, reaching around 1.4 crore individuals today, underscoring their profound impact on the national economy.
Recent statistics highlight the scale of this contribution. In 2022, migrant workers sent remittances totaling 21.28 billion USD, followed by 20.82 billion USD in 2023. These substantial sums constitute a critical component of the GDP of our country. Such consistent inflows of remittances are pivotal as Bangladesh strives to achieve its ambitious goal of becoming a high-income country and realizing the Vision of a Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
Despite their significant contributions, Bangladeshi migrant workers face numerous challenges abroad. They often endure harassment and exploitation, such as being cheated by brokers, bullied or discriminated against at their workplaces due to a lack of skills, and sometimes encountering delays in receiving services from concerned desks.
Besides, the geographical distance between their places of residence and Bangladesh embassies in various countries poses a significant challenge. This distance, compounded by inadequate staffing at diplomatic missions, results in prolonged delays and inefficiencies in processing essential documents and services. As a consequence, expatriates are forced to travel multiple times to access essential services, which is both time-consuming and costly. These difficulties not only impact the personal well-being of migrant workers but also have broader economic implications for Bangladesh. The obstacles faced in accessing embassy services can lead to delays in sending remittances back home by the migrant workers. This reduction in remittances directly affects the financial support that these funds provide to families and communities in Bangladesh, thereby diminishing the overall economic benefit derived from the labor of expatriates.
The Government of Bangladesh has been proactive in addressing the challenges faced by migrant workers. By leveraging information technology, the government has facilitated the registration of people interested in working abroad from the grassroots level. Digitalizing service delivery has been a significant step forward, making processes easier and more efficient. Additionally, incentives have been introduced to encourage the sending of remittances through legitimate channels. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment are diligently working to ensure fair, safe, regular, and responsible labor migration. Their efforts aim to secure the rights and welfare of expatriates, recognizing their crucial role in the nation's economy and future development. To address the specific issues faced by expatriate Bangladeshis, the Expatriate Smart Center (ESC), also known as the Expatriate Digital Center, was launched in 2017. This initiative was a joint effort by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and a2i, aimed at bringing essential services to the doorstep of around 28 lakh expatriates in Saudi Arabia. Initially, six centers were established in Riyadh (four centers) and Jeddah (two centers). By 2022, this network expanded to 22 locations, with five more centers added in 2023, bringing the total to 27 centers across Bangladeshi-dominated regions of Saudia Arabia. These centers have significantly eased the lives of expatriates by providing services such as passport re-issuance, passport renewal, correction of birth registration, document verification, obtaining police clearance, wage earners card, travel permit, online visa application (in the case of foreigners), among others.
The impact of the Expatriate Smart Center has been profound. According to a study, the centers have provided approximately 10 lakh services to expatriate Bangladeshis, saving an estimated 70 lakh working hours and $118 million. This efficiency and reliability have made the ESC a trusted resource for Bangladeshis abroad. Additionally, the centers are managed by expatriate Bangladeshis, creating entrepreneurial opportunities and fostering self-reliance within the community. The initiative has not only facilitated smoother service delivery but also empowered expatriates to become entrepreneurs and contribute more significantly to the economy through remittances.
To qualify as an ESC Entrepreneur/Director, the applicant must be an adult expatriate Bangladeshi with a government-approved business in the host country. Preference is given to ICT or service delivery related businesses, and applicants should have prior experience in serving expatriates. Additionally, they must not be associated with any anti-state activities. The success of the ESC in Saudi Arabia has led to plans for its expansion to 36 more countries, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the well-being of expatriate Bangladeshis worldwide and contributing to the vision of a Smart Bangladesh. Looking ahead, the Government of Bangladesh is committed to expanding the reach and impact of Expatriate Smart Centers globally. Inspired by the success in Saudi Arabia, plans are underway to serve over 90% of the expatriate Bangladeshi population worldwide. An online platform is being developed to monitor and coordinate these centers effectively, ensuring consistent service delivery and support for Bangladeshi immigrants wherever they are located. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and a2i are collaborating to enhance e-services for migrant workers. As a result, eight new consular services offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have transitioned to e-services.
These include the issuance of Note Verbal and Letter of Introduction, as well as the attestation of police clearance, single certificate, guardian certificate, driving license, Hajj certificate, education certificate, and am-moktarnama. Besides, six services provided by the Wage Earners' Welfare Board (BWEB) under the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment have also been converted to e-services.
The vision behind expansion of ESC is multifaceted. It not only seeks to alleviate the challenges faced by expatriates but also aims to strengthen their economic contributions to Bangladesh. Expatriate Smart Center would play a pivotal rule in realizing the Vision of Smart Bangladesh. By reducing the time, costs, and inefficiencies associated with accessing essential services, the expansion of ESCs is expected to enhance economic outcomes and increase remittances. Ultimately, this initiative aligns with Bangladesh's broader goal of becoming a developed and prosperous nation, where expatriates are valued as equal partners in national progress and success.
Masum Billah, Public Servant
Masum Billah
Public Relation Officer, Public Diplomacy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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