Jumbangla Desk: The interim government's chief advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that the government has taken necessary measures so that expatriates get respect and service as guests at the airport.

He said this while inaugurating a dedicated lounge (Prabasi Lounge) for migrant workers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday.

Addressing the expatriates, the chief adviser said, 'May the nation give you the respect you deserve. Pravasi Lounge was inaugurated today as the first step to give that respect. Hopefully, many more steps will be taken.'

Dr. Yunus said, 'So that you can come here and think that you are at peace, at home, everyone is looking after you, serving you. That means you will stay here like a guest. You will be honoured.'

He said, this is an effort to explain what you deserve. What I started today can be applied in many ways.

Expressing regret that expatriates do not get proper respect and service at the airport, the Chief Advisor said, 'The country runs on you. You are supposed to keep it on your head. Why make a criminal? The idea is that you earn your money, it's up to you! What about us?'

Emphasizing on proper use of the money earned by the expatriates, the head of government said, 'The money that the expatriates are earning is coming to Bangladesh, they are earning for Bangladesh. Expatriates are earning money with difficulty. And this hard earned money is being smuggled abroad by another person. This is our misfortune. We have to come back from there, let the money of our country stay in the country, it is useful for the country.'

Expatriate workers called Dr. the craftsman of the country. Yunus said, 'Our expatriate workers are the craftsmen of country building. They played a major role in the mass uprising of July-August. We are always grateful to them. We believe this lounge will make their journey easier.'

Muhammad Yunus said, we were able to start a new journey for expatriates after three months of coming to the government. Mentioning the name of Expatriate Welfare Adviser Asif Nazrul, he said, "Both of us have felt the need for this on the way to and from abroad.

He said, 'We all have to use the airport. I also have to come and go almost. It hurts my heart when I see how much suffering the expatriates are going through.'

Emphasizing on the ease of government services for expatriates, the chief adviser said that e-passports should now be issued for expatriates. A printed passport is not required. You have to arrange that the passport will be sent to your phone. Do not go to the office.

He said, I don't want to go to the government office anymore. The service can be delivered to the home.

Note that this is the first expatriate lounge at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport. Here Bangladeshi migrant workers can find places to rest and food at affordable prices. It will be subsidized by the government to serve food at affordable prices.

Legal and Expatriate Welfare Adviser Asif Nazrul and senior officials of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) were present at the function.

Professor Asif Nazrul said that 100 staff have been appointed to take care of expatriates and assist them at the airport. IOM sponsored these workers.

Fatima Nusrat Ghazali, Deputy Chief of IOM Mission in Bangladesh, said that the United Nations has sponsored the lounge to help Bangladeshi migrant workers.-Bass