Govt to assist in rehabilitation of Sudan returnees
Staff Reporter :
The government has decided to provide loan assistance of three lakh taka, without collateral, to the migrants who are returning from the war-torn Sudan and now wish to pursue trade and business venture in the country.
The decision was taken at a meeting held in the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment on Sunday regarding the economic and social rehabilitation of migrants returning from Sudan to the country.
“It has been decided that all workers who are interested in engaging in trade and business upon their return to the country will be eligible to receive an investment loan from Probashi Kallyan Bank without collateral, ranging from three lakh taka to fifty lakh taka, depending on compliance with the regulations of Bangladesh Bank,” Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare, Imran Ahmad said after the meeting.
Furthermore, in the meeting, it was decided to provide assistance to the returnees from Sudan if they again want to go pursue work abroad. The government will take into account their preferred destination country and the necessary qualifications.
Specifically, the government recruiting agency Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESEL) will recruit these workers on priority basis based on their qualifications.
Additionally, interested workers will be provided with skill development/entrepreneurship training/counseling free of cost.
The Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare has stated that in order to effectively implement the initiatives taken for the repatriation, a database will be prepared within the next 15 working days through proactive communication with the returning workers.
The Wage Earners’ Welfare Board and the District Employment and Manpower Office (DEMO) officials are responsible for
contacting the returning workers. The Minister has also requested assistance and cooperation in providing necessary information and support to all those returning from Sudan.
The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare has urged the DEMO to establish communication with the returning workers for detailed information. The address of the DEMO can be found at www.bmet.gov.bd.
According to the information from the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, so far, more than 700 Bangladeshi nationals have returned from war-affected Sudan in multiple phases.
According to the Foreign Ministry, around 1500 Bangladeshis are reportedly staying in Sudan. Soon after the conflicts between Sudanese Army and Rapid Support Forces, the fierce violence spread across the country, killing many people there.
The conflicts pushed the nationals of other countries to evacuate the war-torn Sudan. Even the Bangladesh Embassy in Sudan came under attack on April 15, which forced the Ambassador Tarek Ahmed to move to safe place from Khartoum.
Following the fierce fighting in Sudan, the government of Bangladesh requested the Bangladeshi nationals to return home as the situation was volatile and no sign of normalcy soon.
The government began to bring them back in phases from the Port Sudan to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and from there to Dhaka. Amid this situation the government announced that they would stand by the migrants to support different ways including financial support.
Following such previous decision, the Expatriate Ministry came out with the announcement to provide loan assistance for these people to restart their life.
