TOKYO – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today called on expatriate Bangladeshis and people living at home to work together for the country’s development and the welfare of its people, saying that a better Bangladesh would benefit all citizens, both at home and abroad.
“Our first plan is to do something good for the country. Whether we live at home or abroad, wherever we are, we should try to do whatever we can to benefit the country and its people,” he said while addressing a views exchange with members of the Bangladeshi community in Japan at Hotel New Otani in Tokyo this evening.
His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, was present at the meeting. Reiterating his call for collective efforts for national development, the Prime Minister said Bangladeshis living abroad remained citizens of the country and had opportunities to contribute to its progress. He stressed the need for joint efforts to strengthen the economy, education, healthcare and workforce skills, urging everyone to work from their respective positions for the welfare of the people.
Responding to questions from expatriate Bangladeshis about various issues, Tarique Rahman outlined the government’s plans to improve education and healthcare, develop a skilled workforce and expand Bangladeshis’ participation in Japan’s labour market. Emphasising the importance of developing a skilled workforce for Japan, the Prime Minister said Bangladeshi workers should receive proper training, Japanese-language education and an understanding of Japanese culture before being sent to the country.
Such preparation would help strengthen Bangladesh’s position in Japan’s labour market and sustain the acceptance of Bangladeshi workers there in the long term, he added. On engaging expatriate Bangladeshis proficient in Japanese as language instructors in the country, Tarique Rahman said interested individuals should also come forward. He noted that a recruitment notice for Japanese-language teachers had attracted fewer applications than expected.
Expatriates skilled in Japanese could contact the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment to explore possible initiatives in this regard, he said. On education, the Prime Minister said the government was prioritising a stronger foundation in primary education while planning to introduce a third language alongside English to expand students’ opportunities for higher education and employment.
“Opportunities will be created to learn Japanese, German, French and several other foreign languages. Students will be able to choose a language according to their preferences,” he said.
He said planning for the initiative had already begun, expressing hope that schools could start offering Japanese and several other foreign languages next year.
The government also wants to provide students with opportunities to participate in sports, arts and cultural activities alongside academic studies, he said, adding that technical and vocational education would receive priority. Tarique Rahman said equipping students with foreign-language skills and opportunities to develop their abilities in sports and cultural activities would give them additional advantages in education and employment at home and abroad.