Returning workers told the story of turning around
Celina Begum of Tangail went to Cyprus through a broker with the help of her husband to return the family's fortune. But could not survive there. He came back empty handed. Returning to the country became more socially stressed. The husband pressed to return the money. After that, he got into the business of selling tea packets. Now besides tea, he has employed 10 more people by making swings.
Selina Hossain herself told such a story of her resurrection. He said that if a woman goes abroad, the people of the society look at it with a bad eye. On return it increases 10 times. So after returning, he did not leave the house for a month. After that, the family started running the tea business. Bought a scooty with the help of BRAC, with which he supplies tea to the entire police station. Even though the society and the husband threw it away, Brac didn't throw it away.
Salina Hossain, who returned abroad, said this at a function organized by the private development organization BRAC at a hotel in the capital today. The Hope Project, supported by the European Union and BRAC, is working to rehabilitate the returning expatriates. The event was organized by this project. Titled 'Resurgence from Return: A Story of Resurgence and Reintegration', the event highlighted the survival and success of returning expatriates.
Sohail Rana of Tangail, who returned from Italy, said that the family could not survive by farming. So go to Rumania through a broker. He was very good in the country for 2 years. When the contract ended, he made several attempts to go to Italy illegally. He became helpless without getting a job. Returned to the country. There was no condition to walk, he could not even walk. With the help of the Pratyasha project, a grocery store is now doing well.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) worked with BRAC on the first phase of the project. Now the agency is providing policy support for the second phase of the project. Many like Selina and Sohail have come back from abroad with the help of this project. A documentary film made on the story of some other workers' turnaround was presented at the event. Along with BRAC, a government scheme called RAISE is working to rehabilitate the returning workers.
Minister of State for Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment. Nurul Haque said, huge expatriate income is coming, although there are many hardship stories behind it. The benefits that are given to the expatriates by the government are taxes. 13 and a half thousand taka is very less for rehabilitation. It should be increased. To work jointly with non-governmental development organizations and international organizations.
Nurul Haque also said that the government has taken a strict stand to prevent human trafficking and illegal immigration. Currently there are more than three thousand recruiting agencies. They will be scrutinized and graded, in which more than 600 agencies may not survive. Competent agencies will be encouraged and those involved in fraud should be punished severely. This trend of going abroad by sea must be stopped. The government will take action against those who are forcing the youth to die at sea in risky migration.
BRAC Chairperson Hossain Zillur Rahman presided over the event. He said that it is important for government and non-governmental organizations to work together for safe immigration and the welfare of expatriates; Because the problems are multidimensional. Government can take the experiences of BRAC in this field.
Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment Secretary Md. Mokhtar Ahmed, Executive Chairman of National Skill Development Authority Nazneen Kausar Chowdhury, Counselor of European Union Delegation in Bangladesh Yurate Smalskite Merville, Additional Secretary Md. Saiful Haque Chowdhury, Director General of Wage Earners Welfare Board. Asaduzzaman. Safi Rahman Khan, director of BRAC gave a welcome speech. Shariful Islam, head of BRAC immigration program, highlighted the activities of the project.
