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Expatriates Seek Govt. Cooperation in Enterprise

by S. A. Hussain
WAR ravaged Kuwait and Iraq: economically devastated Bangladesh.
Difference is — for reconstruction of Kuwait the western war-partners are already in the field and tn appropriate time for Iraq's reconstruction also there will be no dearth of volunteers, as there is both short and long term smell of honey in the Middle East: but Bangladesh is unsimilar in that respect, therefore hardly any one is expected to come forward in our aid to put the shattered economy on the even keel.
For the catastrophe of Bangladesh economy whosoever are responsible deserve exemplary punishment no doubt, so that none dares to repeat such crime. But that is not the end of discharging responsibility. At this juncture it is the duty of all patriotic ■ forces irrespective of Individual, group, community, caste and religion to come forward In ejecting out the economy from its debris and infuse life-blood in its artery. The condition of Foreign Exchange deposit is also in extremely deteriorating state. The whole financial sector demands immediate and particular attention on top priority basis.
Time is calling the, Bangladeshi expatriates and returnees, the prime source of Foreign Exchange earning, to rebuild the economic structure of the country. But where Is a smooth way? For these people In other countries including India, Pakistan. Sri Lanka. Philippines etc. there is sense of directions and patronage coverage from the government side. Unlike that. In Bangladesh the people of this group experience volleys of ob-stacles. deception and deprivation in utilizing their valuable experience and hard earned foreign exchange. This valuable
class of manpower has not been duly evaluated, nor been duly looked after. While their experience, fund, labour, and devotion could be appropriately utilized in the sphere of socio-economic development, they are suffering from despair. discontentment and distrust. As a result some of them have started business activities tn the countries where they stay. There they earn and deposit the dividend with the local banks of respective countries, while the industry, agriculture, trade shrink for want of Foreign Exchange or investment in Bangladesh.
Counting these sorts of far-reaching harmful trend. In 1987 these people jointly and unanimously formed a common platform for themselves — "The Probashi-o-Prottagoto Bangladeshi Kollyan Shangho" (The Bangladeshi expatriates and returnees welfare association). Three of the salient objectives of the association are :
1. Investing the foreign earned money and experience In the home-based industry, agriculture, trade and cooperatives for uplifting the socioeconomic condition and thus contributing towards solving the explosive unemployment problem.
2. Employing the modern technique and experience acquired abroad. In the ongoing projects and the projects in pipeline, to (1) relive the concerned hired foreign experts and also (ii) establish mills-factories for producing import substitute products.
3. Launching mention-wrothy contribution In the cooperative field for raising economic conditions, particularly of the low-Income group.
However, no scope or cooperation could be availed from the erstwhile autocratic government in fulfilling any one of those vital objectives. It has been noticed, people In
general hesitate to participate in Govt. Initiated projects for their slow pace of progress (Redtaplsm) and lot of unnecessary' formalities. On the other hand the private initiative tn this regard is also not dependable to them, as some private initiators allegedly deceived some of these simple people. Then what is the result? In both the cases, nonadvancement General people may hold confidence in joint effort of Govt, and Shangho. Alone on the part of the Govt, it is a hard job to elevate the economy of the country. This may be one of the needed joint efforts. At the same time it is not possible for the Shangho to implement their envisaged programmes alone. There Is crying need for the joint effort of the Govt
There is need of minimising the gap between the two: need to arrive at a mutual understanding. That will help both to Implement their economic ideas and plans and the common people would thus yield the sweet fruits of enterprise. In this connection it may be mentioned that the Shangho placed a few vital important requests to the erstwhile government for consideration. Some of which were :
1. To call a seminar of foreign exchange earners on national basis, jointly by the Govt and the Shangho. which might have some positive bearing.
2. To depute some representatives of these people through the Shangho to the concerned of -
flees/ organisations /estab -lishments etc. for gaining their confidence which might gear up degree of output, smoothen better functioning and provide extraordinary momentum towards reaching the goal.
3. To facilitate and pave the path for the new entrant expa-
triates and repatriates in those fields under the umbrella of Govt, cooperation and the experience of the pioneer colleagues already established in the fields of industry, agriculture and trade.
4. 'To initiate weekly projection programme through TV and other information media including a journal of the Shangho for (a) emphasising on the importance of foreign exchange, mode of its earning and appropriate Investment /utilization of uplift of the economic structure of the country. (b) providing sens? of direction to these people and make them optimistic, (c) enabling the Govt, officials to get rid of the long standing habit and practice of redtaplsm which deters cooperation and service.
But not a single proposal could attain the attention of the government and the negative attitude turned the efforts of these people into futile attempts.
For example : A few expatriates and repatriates jointly set up a chemical products Industry as a model venture and within a short span of time by virtue of their ability and labour got very encouraging market for their products. But failing to avail industrial loan as expected, this Industry of hope and aspiration stumbled down. It may be mentioned they failed to avail any help from the BSC IC applying in 1987 and again in 1990. And even after visits by the BSCIC engineer to the industry site, neither the loan nor the result of engineer's survey was received.
Through time and again writing on this particular Issue in the dailies the Shangho depicted elaborate blue print in support of their desired economic goal. They did not even hesitate to knock the
doors of the authorities concerned. But the untiring endeavour to minimise the national poverty and the cry for their own survival proved to be a cry In the wilderness.
It Is to be pointed out that among the repatriates there are people from almost all professions — doctor, nurse, engineer. mechanic, electrician, painter, plumber, denter, masson, carpenter, driver, cleaner, banker, administrator, lawyer, architect, draftsman, business magnet, industrialist, educationist, journalist, etc. They can jointly take over any sort of project, provided the government cooperation is available. If this experienced, hardworking and dedicated group of people are properly mobilised under the joint ef- • fort of the Govt, and the Shangho. they can do a lot for attaining a revolution in the
fields of industry, agriculture, trade and cooperative. By this a stable economy can be achieved and maintained, which would render positive help towords solving the explosive unemployment problem. and thus make a realty happy and prosperous Bangladesh.
This untiring and experienced bunch of people are ready and determined to jump to the arena of activities with their full energy and strength. Time Is knocking at the door for sitting of the representatives of the Shangho and the Govt, across the table, and thrash out the appropriate ways and means for yielding maximum out of the joint effort.
The writer is Secretary General. Probasht-O-Phottag-oto Bangladeshi Kollyan Shangho.