Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Friday said 80% of the problems faced by Bangladeshi expatriate workers originate at home before they even depart for their overseas destinations.

“Around 80% of the problems of the workers we send abroad originate in Dhaka. They find the rest of the 20% problems in the destination countries. But the responsibility of resolving all these problems rests on our missions,” he said while addressing a programme marking “Foreign Service Day-2025” at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

The adviser said Bangladesh missions across various countries have been providing services to around 1 crore Bangladeshi expatriates living around the world despite having limited manpower and resources.

The number of expatriates has increased from 20 lakh to the latest figure but the number of officials remained the same.

Citing the example of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he said according to the authorities of the Middle Eastern country, some 32 lakh Bangladeshi expatriates are currently residing there.

“Even if all of this huge number of expatriates follows the law and rules of that country, yet a large part of them could be in various problems,” Touhid Hossain said.

“So, if there are 50 mission officials and employees in Saudi Arabia, how could it be possible for them to resolve the problems of 10 lakh people? So, we have to start from Dhaka to minimise the problems,” he added.

Yet the adviser requested his colleagues to focus on the problems of expatriates as most workers visit embassies after facing serious problems.             

“There could be some people among the expatriates who create problems, but most of them come to the missions after facing very difficult situations,” he said, urging mission officials to try their heart and soul to ensure they receive the required services.

Touhid Hossain also mentioned that efforts are underway to increase the workforce in various missions, especially in consulate general offices.

He also said though mission officials and staff face their own challenges, the problems encountered by expatriates are often much more complicated.

In his speech, Touhid Hossain recalled how the Foreign Service officers started working from Kolkata to create global public opinion during the Liberation War.

It is to be mentioned that on 18 April 1971, the Deputy High Commission was formed in Kolkata with 65 officers and employees.