Steps to be taken to stop harassment of expatriates at airports: Expat Minister Ariful
Ariful Haque Chowdhury said special monitoring would be ensured so that aspiring migrant workers are not subjected to any form of fraud while travelling abroad.
Labour and Employment and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has said initiatives will be taken to stop harassment of expatriates at airports and to address their problems.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet this afternoon (19 February), during his first visit to his constituency after assuming office as minister.
He said that immediately after taking charge, he spoke to expatriates at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to identify the various problems they face.
Ariful Haque Chowdhury said special monitoring would be ensured so that aspiring migrant workers are not subjected to any form of fraud while travelling abroad.
"Problems will be identified and necessary steps will be taken to resolve them. With everyone's cooperation, we hope to move the country forward," he said.
The Sylhet-4 lawmaker added, "We will not have a hostile attitude towards anyone. We will move this country forward together with all. Resolving the problems of expatriates will receive the highest priority."
"The people of my constituency elected me and sent me to Parliament. Respecting that verdict, our leader and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has included me in the cabinet. This is a gift for the people of Sylhet," he said.
"We must fulfil the hopes people have in us and the promises we have made to them," he added.
Emphasising the need to begin development work in his constituency immediately, he said, "I have a lot of work in hand. But there is not much time. Five years will pass in the blink of an eye. So I must start working from now."
He further said, "I have come to Sylhet on the first day of Ramadan. Today I will visit the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Shah Paran (RA) and spend the rest of the day with my mother. Tomorrow I will go to my constituency."
Ariful Haque Chowdhury was welcomed at the airport by administrative officials and a large number of party leaders and activists.
Notably, the former mayor of Sylhet City Corporation was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Sylhet-4 constituency in the 12 February election.
