Taskforce formed to involve NRBs in national dev

The government has for the first time formed a taskforce to increase involvement of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) in national development, taking into account the around $14 billion they remit every year on an average.

The Economic Relations Division (ERD) formed the 11-member taskforce to formulate an institution framework and work method specifying ways to achieve the involvement and take it forward. The taskforce will be dissolved once the framework is formulated, said an ERD circular last week. The additional secretary to the ERD will be the taskforce convener while Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN AK Abdul Momen a member.

Other members include representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), ministries of expatriate welfare and overseas employment, and labour and employment; Finance Division, Financial Institution Division, a2i programme at the PMO, UNDP Bangladesh, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry and deputy secretary to the ERD.

The principal secretary and chief coordinator (SDG affairs) at the PMO and the ERD secretary will be advisers.  The circular identified a number of government institutions as associate members.

These encompass the divisions of secondary and higher education, technical and madrasa education, health services, health training and household welfare, and information and verbal exchange technology. The others are the ministries of fundamental and mass education, and social welfare, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority and Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority.