The National Expatriates' Day is being observed in the country today (December 30) for the first time at the initiative of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

This year, the theme of the day is - "Probashir Kalyan, Morzada- Amader Ongikar, Smart Bangladesh Goray Tarao Soman Ongshidar".

On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the expatriate Bangladeshis and their family members living in different countries across the world.

In a message, the President said the country achieved the much-awaited independence under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangabandhu's foresight as well as accurate and timely diplomatic action created opportunities for immigration and foreign employment for Bangladeshi citizens soon after the country's independence.

"Diaspora is an integral part of Bangladesh," he said, adding that Expatriate Bangladeshis have directly and indirectly helped in the Great War of Liberation.

Remittances sent by the expatriates and migrant workers have been instrumental in keeping Bangladesh's foreign reserves strong and the wheels of the economy moving, the head of the state added.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said expatriate Bangladeshis played a unique role in the Great War of Liberation under the leadership of the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

From 2009 to 2022, the Bangladeshi diaspora sent home, on average, US$17.5 billion as remittances each year, she said, adding that in the fiscal year 2022-23, this amount was 21.61 billion US dollars.

BDST: 1240 HRS, DEC 30, 2023
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