United News of Bangladesh

Speakers at a dialogue on Saturday said Bangladesh needs to proactively and strategically engage its global community, an estimated 2.4 million diaspora members across regions, particularly in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and EU countries. They said this community holds significant potential in investment, innovation, knowledge exchange, skills, networks, and policy engagement, yet much of this remains underutilised. The dialogue titled “Unlocking Diaspora Potential in Nation-Building" was held in Dhaka as Bangladesh enters a new phase under a new government. Jointly organised by BOND, Club JCI, Next 50, The Daily Star, and Oxfam in Bangladesh, the event brought together around 60 participants from Bangladesh and key diaspora locations, both in person and online. The discussion emphasised a structured national system for consistent diaspora engagement, noting current efforts remain dispersed, with limited institutional mechanisms and practices linking global Bangladeshis to national development priorities. Keynote speaker Dr Tanzil Shafique, Associate Professor at the University of Sheffield, said the core challenge is not diaspora interest but the lack of credible engagement pathways. Drawing on international experience, he proposed a four-layer model: a “Front Door” for entry, clear pathways for service, investment and knowledge, a trust infrastructure for transparency, and delivery partnerships across government, the private sector and institutions. Moderating the session, Md Sariful Islam, Head of Influencing, Communications, Advocacy and Media (ICAM) at Oxfam in Bangladesh, highlighted the need to move beyond a remittance-focused view of the diaspora. He noted that diaspora contributions need to extend to investment, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, policy engagement, and international representation. Quazi M. Ahmed, founder of BOND, highlighted gaps in participation mechanisms and called for platforms that ensure coordination and trust. Anis Rahman, the former president of Billions for Bangladesh, emphasised the need for a functional, one-stop service to facilitate diaspora investments. Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman of the WARBE Development Foundation, noted that policy frameworks are required to connect diaspora engagement with migration, skills, and labour systems.Diaspora representatives shared their perspectives on opportunities and constraints. Muzahid Khan MBE DL from the UK stated that diaspora communities are interested in engaging with Bangladesh but require accessible platforms and clear processes. From a business and technology perspective, Syed Almas Kabir, former President of BASIS, referred to international examples, like those from India, and stressed the need for Bangladesh to develop mechanisms that support diaspora investment and collaboration. Representing the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Director Shah Nusrat Jahan outlined ongoing efforts to simplify procedures and encouraged diaspora stakeholders to engage with the agency. Former Ambassador Mosud Mannan reflected on his diplomatic experience, noting that diaspora members consistently expressed willingness to contribute, but previous initiatives lacked coordination and continuity. Additional contributions from participants across sectors—including health, technology, logistics, youth engagement, and entrepreneurship—pointed to opportunities for collaboration in areas such as digital innovation, supply chain systems, and enterprise development. Speakers including A Gafur, Dr Chowdhury H. Ahsan, Iqbal Bahar Zahid, Dr Ferdoush Saleheen, Monjur Chowdhury, Dr. Nehal Mahtab, Dr. Farazi Binti Ferdous, Shehtaz Chowdhury, Gazi Jishan, Belal Breaga Bakht, Imran Kadir, and Minhaz Anwar, SM Arifuzzaman, and others talked about the need for structured engagement mechanisms to enable these contributions. Venezuelan diaspora cautious despite Maduro’s ouster The dialogue concluded with proposed actions, including a National Diaspora Engagement Policy, an authority, a digital platform for verified opportunities, a revised diaspora bond, diaspora councils in key locations, and transparent systems for investment, reintegration, and dispute resolution. These recommendations are being compiled into a policy brief, highlighting the need to shift from fragmented efforts to structured systems enabling diaspora participation in national development.