Members of the Bangladesh Association of Southern Africa have formally written to the Foreign Affairs Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, urging the establishment of a syndicate-free embassy to address the challenges faced by expatriates in South Africa and other southern African nations.
The letter, sent on December 30, was addressed to the Foreign Affairs Adviser, with copies forwarded to the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare, the Foreign Secretary, the Diplomatic Reporters Forum, and the South African Embassy.
In the letter, the association acknowledged the significant contributions of Bangladeshi expatriates to the nation’s economy, highlighting their vital role in sending remittances despite challenging circumstances. The letter emphasized that, due to inadequate diplomatic engagement with the region in the past, expatriates have been deprived of various essential services and benefits.
The letter further appealed to Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of the interim government, to take decisive action to resolve the expatriates’ issues as a testament to his competence and integrity.
The association outlined ten key issues affecting expatriates, including: Arrangements to repatriate the bodies of expatriates with dignity and at no cost, along with compensation for their families.
Launching e-passport services for ease of access, Reducing the fees for new passport applications and renewals, Improving and expediting the quality of services at the embassy, Appointing administrative officers from among expatriates to ensure efficient service delivery, Ensuring that the embassy operates free from party affiliation and syndicates, Taking special initiatives to lower the cost of air tickets, Establishing consulate services in Southern African countries without an embassy, Stopping all forms of harassment at Dhaka Airport, and Strengthening diplomatic relations and promoting the establishment of a South African embassy in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Association of Southern Africa hopes that the interim government will act swiftly to address these long-standing concerns and improve the welfare of expatriates in the region.