Solving expats’ issues must begin at home

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain yesterday said that efforts to address the challenges faced by Bangladeshi expatriate workers must begin at home, as around 80 percent of the issues originate before they even leave the country.

Although only 20 percent of issues arise in destination countries, he said the responsibility to resolve all of them falls on Bangladesh missions.

He made these remarks while speaking at a programme marking "Foreign Service Day-2025," held at the Foreign Service Academy. The event was broadcast live on the foreign ministry's official Facebook page.

The adviser said Bangladesh's missions, despite limited manpower and resources, serve around one crore expatriates worldwide.

Citing Saudi Arabia as an example, he noted that about 32 lakh Bangladeshis reside there. "Even if all of them follow local laws, many still face various issues," he said.

He said with just 50 officials at a mission there, how can they possibly address the problems of around 10 lakh people? "So, we have to start from Dhaka to minimise the problems."

However, he urged mission officials to recognise that most expatriates visit missions not by choice, but out of necessity. "While a few may cause trouble, the majority seek help in dire situations," he said, calling on staff to serve them with full dedication.

While mission officials may face challenges, the hardships of expatriates are often far greater, he said.

Efforts are underway to increase staffing, particularly at consulate general offices, he added.