Under the overarching theme of promoting skills abroad and strengthening the homeland through remittances, International Migrants Day and National Expatriates Day were observed across multiple districts of Bangladesh, including Jhinaidah, Chitalmari, and Jamalpur, on 18 December. The events featured colourful rallies, discussion sessions, and initiatives to honour expatriates and highlight the significance of their contributions to national development. Our correspondents provide with the following stories:
In Jhinaidah, the day began with a vibrant rally that set off from the Deputy Commissioner’s office in the morning, parading through the town before returning to the starting point. Following the rally, a discussion session was held in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The session was chaired by Md Samiul Islam, Assistant Director of the Jhinaidah District Employment and Manpower Office, and featured speeches from several dignitaries, including District Commissioner Md Abdullah Al Masud, Additional District Commissioner (Revenue) ABM Khalid Hasan, Additional District Magistrate Subir Kumar Das, Additional Superintendent of Police Mahfuzur Rahman, Jhinaidah Press Club President Asif Kajol, and Chief Instructor of Jhinaidah Technical Training Centre Md Asaduzzaman.
Addressing the gathering, District Commissioner Md Abdullah Al Masud said, “Today is 18th December. Like other countries around the world, Bangladesh also observes ‘International Migrants Day’ with due honour. At the same time, we commemorate ‘National Expatriates Day’ in recognition of our remittance earners.” He extended heartfelt greetings to all Bangladeshi expatriates and emphasized that their remittances play a vital role in strengthening the country’s foreign currency reserves and supporting national development. Several expatriate workers present at the event also voiced concerns and urged swift resolution of their problems.
In Chitalmari, Bagerhat, the celebrations were held at the Chitalmari Technical Training Centre (TTC), beginning at 10:00 am with a colourful rally followed by a discussion session. The session was chaired by Acting Principal of Chitalmari TTC, Mr. Atikuzzaman, while the chief guest was Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mr. Mozammel Hossain. Speeches were delivered by SI Imon Hasan from the local police station, Shulshanara Khatun Annie from NGO BRAC, Abu Musa, Branch Manager of CSS, and trainer Yabul Helal. Trainees and expatriates also shared their experiences, including motor driving trainee Farzana Akter and returned expatriate student Samir Mondal. The event was hosted by TTC trainer Sabuj Sardar. The programme highlighted the role of skills and remittances in building the nation and encouraged youth to acquire expertise for global opportunities.
In Jamalpur, celebrations under the theme “Let us acquire skills and build our homeland through foreign remittances” began with a colourful procession organized by the District Administration, the District Employment and Manpower Office, and the Jamalpur Technical Training Centre, starting from Faujdari Mor and moving through the main streets. The discussion meeting that followed at the District Collectorate Conference Room was chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Iftekhar Yunus, with Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Yusuf Ali attending as chief guest.
Speakers included Superintendent of Police Dr Chowdhury Md Jaber Sadek, Assistant Director of the District Employment and Manpower Office Ekramun Nahar, Principal of Jamalpur Technical Training Centre Md Harun Al Mamun, President of the Jamalpur District Press Club Fazle Elahi Makam, human rights activist Jahangir Selim, and Managing Director of The Rahim Overseas (RL-2514) Akhi Khatun. They stressed the importance of sending remittances through government-approved banks and authorized agents to ensure financial security for expatriate workers and their families while contributing to national economic growth. Commemorative plaques were presented to the families of three expatriates and to a bank contributing the highest remittances. Scholarship cheques worth Tk 265,500 were distributed among the children of expatriates, and an expatriate fair was held at Jamalpur Technical Training Centre as part of the day’s celebrations.
Across all three districts, the celebrations emphasized the crucial role of Bangladeshi expatriates in national development, highlighting both their professional skills and financial contributions through remittances. The events also provided a platform for discussion, recognition, and addressing the concerns of expatriate workers, underlining the government and community’s commitment to supporting their welfare.
