Panna Dutt, Moulvibazar
Moulvibazar’s Baralekha Upazila administration has taken special initiative to reduce the hassle of expatriates in registration of Covid-19 vaccine. The facility was launched on Sunday.
Baralekha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) has launched the service called ‘Upazila Administration at the doorsteps of expatriates’. Expatriates in remote areas are happy with the introduction of home-based service.
If anyone calls the Upazila hotline number to get this service, the service provider will go to the expatriate's house. Beneficiaries do not have to pay any additional fee.
Baralekha is a bordering upazila of Molvibazar district consisting of ten unions and a municipality. The distance from Baralekha to the district headquarters is about 70 kilometers and it is hugely inhabited by expatriates.
According to the Baralekha Upazila Administration, innumerable people of Baralekha Upazila live permanently and temporarily in different countries including the Middle Eastern countries.
The government recently issued a public notice for expatriates who come to the country on holiday due to the ongoing coronation situation, to register for Covid-19 vaccine in the district employment and manpower office or through apps.
In this situation amid the lockdown situation, it is very difficult for them to go to the district headquarters 60 km away from Baralekha and stand in the line to register for the vaccine.
In this situation, Baralekha UNO Khandaker Mudassir Bin Ali took such an exceptional initiative to reduce the suffering of the expatriates. The Baralekha Upazila Administration has already trained 3 digital service providers and formed a mobile team with necessary laptops, internet and a vehicle.
This traveling team is working by moving from house to house of expatriates. Expatriates will also get this facility in digital centers in 10 unions of the upazila and Baralekha municipality.
To register, expatriates only have to pay a government-fixed fee through bKash. The Baralekha Upazila Administration is implementing the registration process in coordination with the District Employment and Manpower Office.
Abdul Hafeez, a Saudi expatriate of Nizbahadurpur Union in Baralekha, said, “I was very worried about going to the district town and registering for the vaccine amid the lockdown. UNO Sir has relieved us of this trouble. I quickly registered for the vaccine at home. All the expatriates of the upazila like me are happy to get this service”.
Baralekha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khandaker Mudassir Bin Ali said, “It is very difficult and expensive for the expatriates to go to the district town to register for the vaccine amid this lockdown. Therefore, we have taken this initiative at the upazila level to make the registration process safer and easier for them. We have formed a mobile team under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner with skilled entrepreneurs. This will reduce the suffering of expatriates in corona vaccination registration”.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Moulvibazar Mir Nahid Ahsan said such steps have been taken in Baralekha Upazila so that the remittance fighters do not have to suffer. Such initiatives will be taken in 4 more upazilas in phases to provide vaccine registration services to foreigners.
On July 4, at noon, the expedition started the journey of vaccination registration in Baralekha under the name of Upazila Administration.
