The government is planning to create 101 posts of different categories in 25 Bangladeshi missions abroad for providing assistance to expatriates.
The posts of minister, first secretary, councillor, translator, welfare officer, legal assistant, office assistant, driver and steno typist would be created in the labour wings of the missions, sources in the expatriate ministry said.
The sources also said that the expatriate ministry has prepared a proposal in this regard. It would be sent to the cabinet division to be placed in the upcoming meeting of the secretary committee on administrative improvement affairs, they added.
Seven posts, including one of minister and first secretary, each would be created for the Bangladeshi mission in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The break up for the others include eight posts for Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), nine for Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), eight for Dubai, four for Qatar, four for Milan (Italy), six for Malaysia, three for Brunei, four for Greece, three for South Africa, three for Australia, three for Egypt, three for Spain, four for Singapore, four for Kuwait, five for Bahrain, two for Geneva, three for Maldives, two for Russia, three for Thailand, five for Hong Kong, three for Libya, two for South Korea, one for Italy and two for Oman.
An expatriate ministry official told The Independent that the authorities were trying to provide facilities to Bangladeshis living abroad. “A number of Bangladeshis are staying or working illegally in different countries, especially in the Middle East and Malaysia. They need assistance all the time, but we are unable to help them due to lack of manpower in our missions abroad. That’s the reason for creating the new posts,” he added.
“At least 3,500 Bangladeshis, who went to Saudi Arabia for work, are doing time in various prisons in that country for murders, thefts, gambling and petty crimes and they need assistance. The proposed post of welfare assistant would be created for this purpose,” he said.
About 85 lakh Bangladeshis are working in different countries. Of them, 20 lakh expatriates are working in Saudi Arabia, 15 lakh in UAE, 2.20 lakh in Qatar, four lakh in Oman, two lakh in Kuwait and 1.50 lakh in Bahrain.
-With The Independent input
