Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Embassy of Bangladesh
Paris, France
Press Release
Subject: Seminar on remittance held in Bangladesh Embassy in Paris
Paris, Wednesday 15 March 2017: Bangladesh Embassy in Paris organized a seminar on 14 March 2017 at the Embassy entitled “Sending remittance from France to Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects”.
The purpose of the seminar was to identify reasons behind the recent declining trend of remittance flow and find solutions to address the situation. A good number of expatriate Bangladeshi businessmen related to money exchange, import-export businessmen, restaurant and grocery shop owners, young entrepreneurs, and other relevant persons participated in the seminar. The Seminar was presided over by Ambassador of Bangladesh to France Mr. M. Shahidul Islam and moderated by Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy Mr. Md. Firoz Uddin.
In his introductory remarks, Ambassador Shahidul Islam thanked the expatriate Bangladeshi community in France for sending remittance to their country of origin. It was noted that Bangladeshis living in France sent USD 158.00 million in 2015-2016 FY but the trend in the first eight months of 2016-2017 demonstrated that this year the total remittance flow from Bangladesh to France would be well below the last year’s figure. He invited the Bangladeshi businessmen and entrepreneurs to share their experience to increase the flow of remittance to Bangladesh. The Ambassador underscored that remittance from expatriate Bangladesh nationals abroad is one of the major pillars of Bangladesh’s economic growth and prosperity.
The participants actively took part in the open discussion. The preponderant view of the speakers was that since many of the Bangladeshi citizens are now permanently settling down in France with their family, they are increasingly becoming reluctant to remit money to the country. Some of them felt that a weak Euro against Bangladeshi Taka was also discouraging Bangladeshis to send money to Bangladesh. The participants called upon the Government to provide the same preferential treatment to expatriate Bangladeshi investors as accorded to foreign investors. They also took keen interest in the proposed citizenship law and hoped that the proposed law will enhance the rights of the expatriates.
Among others, Mr. Kazi Enayet Ullah, Mr. Alam Mehmud, Mr. Sharif Al- Momen, Mr. T.M. Reza, Mr. Subrata Bhattacharia Shuvo, Mr. Md. Nasim Ahmed, Mr. Ashraf Hossain Billal, Mr. Rafiqul Islam Titu, Mr. Amdadul Hoq Swapon, Mr. Ali Reza Zafar Jewel, Mr. Moin Khan, Mr. Ziaur Rahman, Mr. Khan Sujon were present at the seminar.
Ambassador M. Shahidul Islam, Commercial Counsellor Mr. Firoz Uddin are seen in the picture at the seminar titled “Sending remittance from France to Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects” at the Embassy on 14 March 2017
Participants at the seminar titled “Sending remittance from France to Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects” at the Embassy on 14 March 2017.
Participants incl Embassy officials at the seminar titled “Sending remittance from France to Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects” at the Embassy on 14 March 2017.