Expatriate Bangladeshis in South Korea on Monday accorded a civic reception to National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan during his visit to the country.
The reception programme was organised by the NCP Diaspora Alliance South Korea at the Khimpu Foreign Support Centre in South Korea at around 12:00pm local time on Sunday.
Apart from leaders and activists of the NCP based in South Korea, expatriate Bangladeshis from different professions and backgrounds attended the event.
Speaking at the programme, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan thanked diaspora members and expatriate Bangladeshis for their hospitality and support.
He said expatriates had kept alive hopes for freedom when the country was “under blockade” during the July mass uprising and expressed gratitude for their role in the movement.
He urged expatriates to remain united in efforts to realise the aspirations of the “July Charter” and referendum initiatives, similar to the unity demonstrated during the uprising.
The NCP spokesperson also called on expatriates to play an active role in informing the international community about the July uprising and Bangladesh’s democratic movement.
He further assured expatriate Bangladeshis that the NCP would continue working to ensure voting rights for Bangladeshis living abroad in future national elections, as in the last parliamentary election.
NCP Joint Member Secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat said expatriate Bangladeshis in South Korea had played an important role during the July uprising.
“We want them to contribute to future state policy-making as well,” he said.
Sifat added that he had travelled to South Korea to attend the Gwangju Democracy Forum and had gained insights into the country’s democratic struggles and political movements.
“We want to present Bangladesh’s future democratic struggles to the world,” he said.
During the programme, expatriates raised several concerns, including arrangements for sending the bodies of deceased students back home free of cost, simplification of Bangladeshi migration procedures in South Korea, prevention of broker-related fraud, ending harassment at airports and ensuring greater inclusion of expatriates in national affairs.
Among others present at the event were NCP central member Ayman Rahat, Convener of the NCP Diaspora Alliance South Korea Arifur Rahman and Member Secretary Babul Mia.
