Govt to introduce ‘Expatriates Card’ to promote formal remittance channels: Minister

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has urged Bangladeshi business owners in the United Arab Emirates to encourage their employees to send remittances through formal banking channels instead of hundi.

He also said the government would soon introduce an “Expatriates Card” to encourage remittances through legal channels and provide expatriates with affordable and priority healthcare at public and private hospitals in Bangladesh.

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The minister made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the Bangladesh CIP Business Association, Dubai, at the ministry’s conference room today, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

During the meeting, Ariful also addressed the recent cancellation of visas of a significant number of Bangladeshis in the UAE.

He said the Bangladesh mission in the UAE had already issued a public notice seeking information from those whose visas had been cancelled and was preparing a consolidated database.

The specific reasons behind the cancellations were yet to be known, he said, adding that the authorities were trying to identify the causes and that the government would take necessary steps accordingly.

The minister said the government was aware of restrictions and stagnation affecting family, student, tourist and employment visas, as well as the transfer of visas from one company to another, since July 2024.

He said the ministry was working continuously to resolve the visa problems through joint diplomatic efforts and intervention at the highest level of government.

The minister also urged Bangladeshi CIP businesspeople to use their relations with the Dubai government and local authorities to complement the government’s efforts to resolve the visa complications.

On investment, Ariful said expatriate Bangladeshi investors would be offered special quotas for land, plots or infrastructure in special economic zones or hi-tech parks, along with tax benefits.

He also pledged “digital and faster services” through a one-stop system to reduce filing and administrative complications involving BIDA, customs, the National Board of Revenue and other government offices.

The minister urged expatriates to strictly follow UAE laws, customs and regulations and avoid taking or sharing photos and videos on sensitive issues or using AI for negative campaigns on social media.

He also stressed the need for awareness campaigns, jointly with consulates and missions, to discourage expatriate Bangladeshis from engaging in illegal or criminal activities.

Ariful said discussions were continuing with the civil aviation ministry and airlines to break ticket syndicates and ensure reasonable airfares.

The delegation sought stronger steps to resume visa issuance, improve the quality of outgoing workers, introduce the expatriates card, repatriate the bodies of deceased Bangladeshis at government expense, ensure affordable treatment and education facilities for their families in the country, reduce airfares, set up dry-food processing plants, and allow the repatriation of investment profits abroad.

Expatriates’ Welfare Secretary Md Mokhtar Ahmed, Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training Director General Jamil Ahmed and other senior ministry officials were present.