Govt to soon set up dedicated hospital in Gulshan for expats : Asif Nazrul
“The hospital will be run by expatriates who have returned from abroad. The expatriates will also acquire ownership of the hospital through the purchase of shares,” he also said
The government will soon set up a dedicated hospital for expatriates in Gulshan of the capital, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul announced today (16 April).
"The hospital will be run by expatriates who have returned from abroad. The expatriates will also acquire ownership of the hospital through the purchase of shares," he also said while speaking at a ceremony organised by the Wage Earners Welfare Board at the Expatriate Auditorium of the Expatriate Welfare Building in Dhaka.
Speaking about various initiatives taken by the current government for the welfare of expatriates, he said, "We are working relentlessly with utmost sincerity to re-establish the welfare, rights and dignity of expatriates.
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"You have seen the dedicated efforts of the honourable chief adviser to free the expatriate brothers who were arrested for supporting the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Not only that, they have also been given a grant of Tk50,000 each after returning to the country."
He also said, "For the temporary stay of expatriates, an initiative has been taken to convert the 50-bed dormitory at the Wage Earners Centre in the Khilkhet area near the airport in Dhaka into a 200-bed building with modern facilities.
"Once this building is constructed, expatriates coming from different parts of the country to go abroad and returning expatriates will be able to stay in this centre safely and get food at affordable prices."
Noting that for years, expatriate and returning workers have been subjected to harassment at the airport for no reason, the adviser said that due to various steps taken at the airport, harassment of expatriates has stopped.
"Strict instructions have been given to the airport staff to treat expatriates well. A very impressive 'Expatriate Lounge' has been set up at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka," he said.
The lounge serves quality food at up to 30% discount, provides free Wi-Fi, free telephone, mobile charging and other facilities.
"To avoid the suffering of expatriate and returning workers, services are being provided to them by appointing additional manpower at the Expatriate Welfare Desk setup inside the airport," he added.
The adviser said, "On average, 15-20 bodies of expatriate workers return to the country every day. Earlier, expatriates had to pay rent to use the board's ambulance for transporting these bodies. Currently, the ambulance rent has been made completely free, and the process of purchasing two more freezing ambulances is underway.
"Instructions have been given on facilitating the services provided by the Welfare Board and on what new services can be introduced. Initiatives have already been taken to formulate laws and rules to ensure the welfare of expatriates."
The programme was organised to distribute scholarships to meritorious children of expatriates, disability allowances, medical assistance to sick expatriates, and financial grants and insurance and death compensation cheques to the families of those who died abroad.
Neyamat Ulya Bhuiyan, senior secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, presided over the programme.
