Dhaka: Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, MP, has called for a concerted effort to ensure that expatriates send remittances through formal banking channels, highlighting the critical role of remittances in bolstering the national economy. Speaking at the ‘Global Conference Series 2026: Branding Bangladesh beyond Bangladesh’ event at Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Dhaka, he emphasized the need for expatriates’ income to reach the country legally.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Minister Swapon stressed the importance of channeling remittances through official banking systems to avoid illegal pathways. The minister urged authorities to protect expatriates from harassment during money transfers and to maintain trust in the banking sector. He also advocated for additional incentives to promote legal remittance inflows, particularly amid current economic pressures on foreign currency earnings.
The minister underscored the necessity of increasing remittance inflow legally to enhance the country’s foreign exchange reserves. He highlighted the need to improve the skills of the Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) diaspora and to ensure their earnings are invested in national development. Initiatives to reward bank officials contributing to remittance inflows were also praised.
Swapon encouraged stakeholders to explore new remittance sources and enter emerging labor markets like the Balkan region and Eastern Europe, rather than relying solely on traditional destinations. He emphasized the importance of these efforts for economic resilience.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, MP, speaking as a special guest, noted Bangladesh’s uncommunicated success stories. She cited historical milestones like the 1952 Language Movement and the Bangladesh Liberation War as vital to the country’s global image. Shama stressed the safety and welfare of expatriate workers, aligning with Bangladesh’s ‘Bangladesh First’ foreign policy.
She mentioned the legacy of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in manpower export and remittance, emphasizing modernizing this legacy. The minister affirmed that diplomatic missions are actively safeguarding expatriates’ rights and interests, with coordinated efforts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare to repatriate Bangladeshis from conflict zones such as Lebanon.
State Minister for Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md. Nurul Hoque, MP, also addressed attendees. The event, chaired by M S Sekil Chowdhury of the Center for Non-Resident Bangladeshis, included senior banking sector representatives who have significantly contributed to remittance collection.