43 missions abroad face staff shortage
Forty-three Bangladesh missions abroad are facing manpower shortage resulting in poor services to non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told parliament yesterday.
"The missions are running with a manpower structure approved in 1982, when only around 4 lakh Bangladeshis lived abroad. The number of NRBs has increased to 75 lakh while the manpower in missions remains almost the same," said the minister.
She admitted in many cases the foreign missions are not sensitive towards NRBs and attributed their poor services to shortage of manpower.
Dipu Moni also informed the House that according to the directive of prime minister, her ministry is taking steps to increase the workforce soon.
The foreign ministry will take action if any mission official is found neglecting duty or misbehaving with people, she added.
On repatriation of 28,000 Rohingya refugees living in Cox's Bazar area, the minister said significant progress has been made to send them back to Myanmar.
"Discussions have been held with the Myanmar government in this regard. The Bangladesh government has taken all measures to send them back,” noted the minister.
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