Dear Editor,
Hope you are doing well and thanks for publishing my previous write-ups
This is an article about "To boost country's image". I will be highly honoured if you publish this article. I apprecite your time to read this article.
Thanks
Have a nice time
With Best Regards
Ripan Kumar Biswas
New York, U.S.A
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To boost country's image
Ripan Kumar Biswas
"You guys are fool, inefficient, and disgusting," said one of the Bangladeshi expatriate to the consulate people at Bangladesh Consulate in New York. The expatriate, who had a back pack marking Hunter College of The City University of New York, possibly was a student, but was too rough towards the consulate people as according to him, he was not informed before as the extension of any passport usually starts from the last date of expiry. He was angry because after renewing his passport for two years, his passport just got six months validity as the date covered from the last date of expiry. The consulate people were so mild and descriptive at the beginning by saying that as a citizen, everyone should aware of his/her passport's expiry date, but hearing such slung languages from him, they became rough too.
This is not a matter causing worry to be discussed. But the matter is and important to be focused while Bahrain stops issuing work permits to Bangladeshis, or Bangladeshi on death row in Bahrain to be executed, or Malaysia tightens visa rule for Bangladeshis. Because this is not only a matter of loosing remittance, loosing reputation of Bangladeshi workers worldwide, or loosing diplomatic relation, but also loosing Bangladesh's international value.
Whether in bringing business to Bangladesh, advising government, or continuing to represent Bangladesh abroad, Non-Resident Bangladeshis' (NRB) have so much to contribute to the land they have. They are bringing to bear a new attitude born out of their rich experience in different countries. They are the representatives of the country to the external world. NRBs are very important contributors to country's exchequer.
During the liberation war while Bangladesh government-in-exile formally announced the Proclamation of Independence on April 17, 1971, or some NRBs' step which helped to observe International Mother Language Day, or their campaign and views against last political turmoil, they always played an important role in country's political and economical history. They are assimilated with the country's economy, policy, planning, and technology.
From 1976 to April 2007, around 4.751 million Bangladeshis went across the globe, and their remitted money is now the main earning source for Bangladesh. Many of them are skill, non-skill workers, professionals, or businessmen. With a continuous growth in remittance, Bangladesh's inflow reached $561.92 million in May, 2007. And the central bank expects the overseas remittances to touch $7.50 billion by the end of this fiscal as steps have already been taken to facilitate increased inflow from some selective countries. NRBs send roughly $7 billion every year, but a significant amount still comes through "Hundi."
Besides a major setback due to some steps against lawbreakers and misdeeds by a section of private recruiters since January and amid widespread fear of deportation, remittance inflow from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the single biggest overseas job market in where about 1.75 million Bangladeshis are working, continued to increase in April since the beginning of this year. In the July-December period of 2007, the average monthly inflow from the KSA was about $158 million, but it surged to $242 million in April, $260 million in March.
Starting with 2,193 member team to monitor peace in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during the first gulf war in 1991, Bangladesh Army started its peace keeping activities throughout the world. As of February 2008, Bangladesh remained the largest contributor with 11,200 troops in the UN Peacekeeping forces. In those missions, sometimes they worked to curb inter border terrorism or to clear illegal dwellings and establishments or they worked to restore democracy as they know how much it is important for a civilized society. Besides Bangladesh army and Bangladesh Police, UN is now interested to involve Bangladesh civil servants and professionals in its different ongoing or upcoming missions and projects.
By observing, experiencing, and realizing the demand of Bangladesh's work force in the international market, is there anyone to care about the image of Bangladesh's work force? The man, who was fighting with the consulate people in New York, has a mindset that the Bangladeshis working in different embassies and consulates worldwide aren't helpful at all rather realizing his responsibility first. His bad attitude helped other foreigners, who were present at the consulate premises at that time, to get wrong impression of Bangladeshi people. On the other hand, the way the consulate officials handled the visitors, raised their customer service ability and professionalism.
It brings bad reputation to the hundred thousands Bangladeshis and the image of Bangladesh, who are working hard for the development of Bahrain while a Bangladeshi killed a Bahraini national. It becomes hard to restore the work permit again while Bahrain has stopped issuing work permits to Bangladeshis from Monday, May 26, 2008 in response to the demand of some members of parliament to expel all Bangladeshis. Bangladesh's exports to Bahrain included frozen food, agricultural products, chemical products, Jute goods, other products like melamine, garment, fabric etc, may be affected.
On the other hand, while the Bangladeshi professionals are getting international attention, the government is less attentive to maintain its diplomatic ties with other countries. The new Malaysian visa rules for Bangladeshi and Indian, which requires two-week pass obtained in advance from the their home country and a return ticket before entering Malaysia, is an example of government's lack of interest and awareness to maintain and obtain equal diplomatic relation. A few months before, South Korean government did the same thing and cancelled visas-on-arrival and port entry whereas the both countries have significant number of businesses in Bangladesh.
It's a good sign to increase the ability and credibility while the government announced stern action against the officials of the commercial wings of the different foreign missions who are not concerned about their export targets. According to the decision on Monday, May 26, 2008, chaired by the commerce secretary, Feroz Ahmed, the commerce ministry officials will visit from the next financial year the commercial wings and report back to the ministry on the performance of the commercial wings. But in collectively, the officials of whole foreign missions should have to be trained properly so that they can perform their task efficiently.
The cooperation between NRBs, officials of Bangladesh foreign missions, and the government, is needed to boost and uphold the country's image. Only then, everyone will be welcomed in anywhere in abroad like the Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
June 01, 2008, New York
Ripan Kumar Biswas is a freelance writer based in New York
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