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To create overseas employment opportunities for people from poor and disadvantaged families in his constituency, Shariatpur-2 lawmaker Md. Shafiqur Rahman Kiron has taken an exceptional initiative to send 216 people abroad at his own expense.
As part of the initiative, 53 selected jobseekers were handed their visas and air tickets in the first phase at a programme held at the head office of Metco Enterprise in the capital. The remaining 163 people will be sent abroad in phases, according to the organisers.
Metco Enterprise Chairman Farhana Kadir Rahman, Naria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdul Qayyum Khan, Vedarganj UNO Abu Bakar Siddiq, Shariatpur district BNP Organising Secretary and Sakhipur Thana BNP Convener SM Hamid Sardar, and Naria Municipality BNP President Syed Rintu, among others, attended the programme.
Farhana Kadir Rahman said a substantial amount of money was required to provide the overseas employment opportunities, but MP Kiron was spending it willingly for the welfare of people from his home district and constituency rather than for himself.
She said helping people and bringing positive changes to their lives had long been a dream of the lawmaker and that seeing the initiative succeed would give him a sense of satisfaction and peace.
Addressing the outgoing workers, Farhana urged them to focus on employment, self-reliance and securing their families’ future after going abroad.
“You may have your own political views or affiliations with different parties or individuals. But after going abroad, your primary goals should be employment, self-reliance and ensuring your family’s future,” she said.
She also advised them to refrain from engaging in overt political activities abroad and to uphold Bangladesh’s image while concentrating on the work for which they were travelling.
“Your success will be the greatest achievement of this initiative,” she said, expressing hope that the workers would establish themselves, support their families and contribute to the country’s economy.
Md. Shafiqur Rahman Kiron, MP said the initiative had been taken to help restore financial stability to extremely poor and disadvantaged families by providing them with overseas employment without requiring them to bear the cost.
He said the selected workers had received necessary training through his own organisation to prepare them for employment abroad.
“Of the 216 people, 53 are being given visas and tickets in the first phase. Everyone will be sent abroad in phases,” Kiron said.
The lawmaker also acknowledged that he had yet to accomplish much of what he had hoped to do for his constituency.
“I became an MP with a dream, but I have not been able to accomplish even one per cent of it,” he said.
Kiron said he had a strong desire to work for the people of Shariatpur, particularly those in his constituency, and expressed hope that the overseas employment initiative would help improve the economic condition of disadvantaged families.
The initiative comes amid continued demand among Bangladeshis for overseas employment as many families view migration as a way to improve household incomes and secure a better future. For the beneficiaries of the programme, the immediate challenge will be to make effective use of the opportunity and establish themselves in their respective destinations.