Tokyo: Recalling the contribution of Bangladeshi expatriates to nation building, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today stated that expatriates help Bangladesh make a turnaround from ruins. “It is the expatriates who help sustain the country (by sending their remittances in hard time),” he said while speaking at a community reception at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo. Prof Yunus highlighted that the ousted government left the state exchequer and banks empty, and without the support from expatriates, Bangladesh would not have been able to recover.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Chief Adviser emphasized the importance of strengthening the participation of Bangladeshi expatriates in nation building. He urged them to take initiatives to increase business in Bangladesh, emphasizing the responsibility of citizens in the repair of the state. Prof Yunus noted that expatriates have relatives, friends, and businesses in Bangladesh, prompting frequent visits to the country.
Prof Yunus encouraged the expatriates to work collectively and to enhance their influence on the Japanese government. On the occasion, three exchange of notes were signed, concerning the Development Policy Loan for Economic Reform and Strengthening Climate Change Resilience (418 million USD), the Loan for the Joydebpur-Ishwardi dual-gauge double-lane railway project (641 million USD), and the grant for the human development scholarship (4.2 million USD).
The agreements were signed by Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Md Daud Ali and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Shinichi Saida on behalf of their respective sides. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus witnessed the signing of the exchange of notes. Later, he attended a dinner hosted in his honor by the Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan.