The country’s remittance inflows are increasing as the government took effective measures including stopping misuse of human trafficking law.
Mohammed Abul Basher, president of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) made the remark while speaking at a reception programme organised by the Recruiting Agency Friends Associates (RAFA) at the city’s Officers Club on Wednesday night.
In the meeting of the National Steering Committee on Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment Ministry, there was a long-standing demand to stop the misuse of Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012.
AbulBasar said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the Ministry of Home Affairs and Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment to take effective measures not to harass the recruiting agencies. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on May 24, 2023 to implement the instructions of the Prime Minister.
“This decision of the government has increased the flow of remittances in the country. On the other hand, the members of BAIRA are able to do business with respect. The remittances that are coming to the country legally today are due to expatriates who have gone abroad legally through BAIRA,” Abul mentioned.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs and former BAIRA president Benazir Ahmad said, “BAIRA’s problems are endless. BAIRA's main problem was human trafficking law. Due to the closure of this law, remittance flow has increased and on the other hand, the members of BAIRA are able to do business with respect. Today the Parliament talks about remittance. BAIRA is one of the drivers of this remittance flow.”
He also said that we are always in favor of stopping the misuse of human trafficking laws.
We send people abroad legally through the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), he said, adding that as a result of misapplication of this law, we were harassed.
“Many have closed their businesses to spend the rest of their lives with dignity. Because we have a position in society. Many times, without any reason, RABs hold press conferences and there is no way to survive in the society. We want this law, we have no objection to catching those who send people abroad illegally, but to stop the harassment of BAIRA members,” he mentioned.
RAFA president Mohammad AbulBarakatBhuiyan presided over the reception, BAIRA Secretary General Ali Haider Chowdhury, BAIRA senior vice president Reaz-ul-Islam, former BAIRA general secretary Ruhul Amin (Swapan), RAFA general editor Farid Ahmed, RAFA's vice-president Mohammad Ashraf Uddin and others spoke on the occasion.
However, the country’s remittance inflow has increased by about $217 million or 1.13 percent to stand at $19.41 billion in July-May in the current fiscal year 2022-23 over that in the previous fiscal.
The country’s remittances increased to $1.69 billion in May against that in the previous month.
On an average $56.39 million came every day in May while $56.16 million came every day in April.
In April 2023, the remittance was $1.68 billion, down $350 million than in the previous months.
