Govt urges expatriates to become investors
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has urged Bangladeshi expatriates to go beyond sending remittances and become investors and entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, saying their investment could create employment for the country’s large young population.
“Do not remain only remittance senders; play a role as investors and entrepreneurs in Bangladesh,” she said while addressing the Bangladesh Remittance Award 2026 in Singapore on Monday.
The event, jointly organised by Bonik Barta and Singapore’s Thakral Group, honoured Bangladeshi migrant workers who have made significant contributions to the country’s economy through their earnings and remittances.
The state minister said the government was working to create a transparent, corruption-free and investment-friendly environment with one-stop services to encourage expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in the country.
“Your investment will play a major role in creating employment for Bangladesh’s huge young population,” she said.
She also urged Bangladeshi workers in Singapore to send their earnings through formal banking channels instead of hundi, respect Singapore’s laws and workplace culture, and refrain from extremist or hate-based campaigns on social media.
She called on expatriates to maintain harmony by respecting people of different languages and religions and to continuously improve their skills in new technologies, technical fields and languages.
Shama said the government was working to substantially reduce the cost of migration from Bangladesh, which she said currently forces many workers to sell land and spend Tk 1 million to Tk 1.4 million to secure overseas employment because of unscrupulous businesses and syndicates.
The government, she said, had set a target of bringing the migration cost down to a maximum of Tk 300,000. The state minister described expatriate Bangladeshis as the country’s “pride and strength”, saying their hard work not only improves the living standards of their families but also strengthens the foundation of the national economy.
Around 150,000 Bangladeshis are currently working in various important sectors in Singapore, she said.
Bangladesh received nearly $45 billion in remittances in the 2024-25 financial year, of which Singapore contributed about $475.03 million, according to the state minister.
She said the government, under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership and guided by the policy of “Bangladesh First”, was working to attract new investment and create employment opportunities.
For the first time, the Foreign Ministry has opened a dedicated Migration Wing to provide comprehensive services to migrants and address their problems more quickly, she said. The wing is working as a joint working group with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Shama said Bangladesh and Singapore were also continuing discussions to expand cooperation in manpower and employment, including skills development, re-employment, intra-company transfers and ensuring fair working conditions.
She thanked Singaporean diplomats, the Singapore Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Manpower for their cooperation in assisting Bangladeshi workers who had recently faced unpaid wages and loss of employment.
At Monday’s event, 15 outstanding Bangladeshi expatriate “remittance warriors” working in Singapore were honoured. Four organisations, two CIP recipients and three leading exchange houses operating under Bangladesh-based banks in Singapore also received special recognition.
The state minister handed over the awards and recognition plaques to the recipients. If you want, I can also make this more analytical and diplomatic, with the investment appeal as the stronger news angle.
