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Migrant issues must get priority in 5-year plan

Says Wahiduddin at remittance festival

Star Business Report
The government should attach importance to the issues of labour force and migrant workers in the five-year plan along with drawing schemes for agricultural and industrial development, said an expert yesterday.
“There should be plans for the betterment of migrant workers in line with those for agricultural and industrial advancement," said economist Wahiduddin Mahmud, suggesting that the government address the issues of both migrant and industrial workers in a holistic view in the five-year plan.
The government is expected to frame a five-year plan for 2010-2015.
Mahmud, also a former adviser to the caretaker government, made the recommendations at the inaugural session of a programme styled "Remittance Utsab & Sonar Manush Award" at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, renamed recently from Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.
Bankers, money-changers and family members of migrant workers participated in the programme, chaired by Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui.
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) organised the ceremony to give recognition to millions of migrant workers.
"Migrants and female garment workers are behind much of our economic advancement. But they remain neglected," said Mahmud.
"Economic planning will be more appropriate if we can show respect to them,” he said, referring to the problems in remittance sector, training of workers, curbing cheat by recruiters, returnee workers' rehabilitation and productive use of migrants' money.
"We should look into these issues in an holistic approach, " he said.
More than 60 lakh Bangladeshi migrants, who work aboard, are sending remittances, which stood at $9.68 billion in fiscal 2008-09. The amount was about 10 percent of GDP (gross domestic product) the same year.
However their contribution to about $90-billion Bangladesh economy is yet to be recognised in full as the problems and sufferings of these migrants remain mostly untouched with complaints of over-charging by recruiting agents and cheating being prominent.
The money sent by these workers, mostly from the Middle East countries, is also spent in unproductive areas such as investment in luxurious buildings, orna-
ments and land instead of being used in capital formation and productive sectors.
In case of returnee migrants, information about their rehabilitation is also not available.
“Remittance is becoming one of the most important pillars of our economy after agriculture. But less is talked about the remitters compared to discussions on foreign aid. There is also a lack of information in government agencies about the sector,” said Mahmud.
Noting the unproductive use of remittance, the economist suggested the government and banks devise plans to encourage its use in productive areas.
"But creation of an investment friendly environment is important," he said.
"What we need is to decentralise the Dhaka-based economic activities and create an investment friendly environment in other parts of the country to encourage productive investment.”
The Bangladesh Bank deputy governor said the central bank now considers initiatives to ask bankers to grant remittance as collateral against loan demand.
"We arc also considering scope to make arrangement for sending remittance through mobile phone," he said.