Bangladeshi diplomats abroad get the lowest allowance among South Asian countries that perhaps stand in the way of branding, upholding and promoting the country to the stakeholders concerned properly, sources said.

Sources in Dhaka and abroad said Bangladesh diplomats get the lowest allowance compared to countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan in most overseas countries.

The government of Bangladesh last revised the foreign allowances of MOFA officials in 2012. During the last 12 years, the cost of living abroad has increased several times leaving Bangladeshi diplomats struggling to maintain a decent life abroad, said at least two dozen Bangladeshi diplomats. Bangladesh government has 81 missions across the globe, sources said.

Sources said Bangladeshi diplomats are often reluctant to be posted in European countries except the UK as the government of Bangladesh allocates tuition fees for maximum two children, that is, to the tune of 20,000 US dollars or 85 per cent of total tuition fees, which one is lower, said a MOFA official.

Education is usually free at public schools in the UK, the USA, Australia and Canada, and most Bangladesh diplomats prefer to get posting in ‘English-speaking countries'. 'Education is highly expensive in English medium schools  in non-speaking English countries in Europe, sources said .

As a part of upholding the country’s image in the international arena, the government of Bangladesh has given the highest priority in promoting Bangladesh’s history, culture, heritage and tourism etc. abroad with a view to establishing Bangladesh as a progressive, secular, effective and capable country. Foreign missions abroad require holding seminars, workshops, publicities and exhibitions to highlight benefits of doing business in Bangladesh at regular inter-level, sources said .

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs formulates and executes the foreign policy of the Government of Bangladesh. The core guidance of policy formulation comes from the relevant section of the Constitution of Bangladesh. In developing the external policy of the republic, the Ministry draws from the laws of the land, acts of the Parliament, international treaties that Bangladesh is a State party to, and other customary sources.

The Foreign Ministry’s goals are to develop and maintain friendly relations with other states and foster cooperation with developed, developing and least developed countries, and various regional, sub-regional, political and economic groups.

The foreign ministry pursues Bangladesh’s external economic and trade interests, promotes its culture abroad, and disseminates information to foreign countries. It safeguards the legal rights and promotes interests of its citizens and other legal entities in foreign countries. The ministry discharges its diverse duties through its headquarters in Dhaka and through its network of missions aboard. The work of the ministry is conducted by a number of wings. These divisions gather, analyze and process information, set priorities and draw up options according to the allocation of their individual areas and responsibilities.

Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has been marching towards the ‘Golden Bengal’ envisioned by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangladesh has celebrated the golden jubilee of its independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.

Confirmation of Bangladesh’s graduation into a developing country came at the time of the momentous and joyful occasion. Graduation was indeed a remarkable milestone for the Bangladesh government that has been made possible by the right steps and prudent policies and strategies. Furthermore, we are now among the five fastest growing economies in the world, and is ranked 41st in terms of GDP size.

Over the last 50 years, Bangladesh economy has progressed well and is now considered as one of the emerging countries in the region.  Bangladesh has surpassed Pakistan and Nepal in social and economic indicators, and even countries like India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives in some social indicators. During the 13 years of the government, our poverty rate came down from 33.4 percent to 20.5 percent. Per capita income jumped to nearly fourfold to US$ 2,824.

The Vision 2041 stipulates elimination of extreme poverty and securing the upper middle-income country status by 2031 and becoming a high-income country by 2041. A number of large infrastructure projects, such as Padma Multi-Purpose Bridge, Metrorail, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, are going to open for traffic this year transforming the communication infrastructure of the country.

Citing an example, a MOFA official told this correspondent that the Russian mission in Dhaka has increased social networking by hosting events every month since Russia invaded parts of Ukraine since the war began February 2022. The Russia-Ukraine war has been continuing with no sign of let-up as of now. To gain the support of Bangladeshis, the Russian mission in Dhaka is inviting Bangladeshi political, civil and military bureaucrats, cultural personalities, students, politicians at regular interval.  Journalists and members of the civil society at regular social gatherings. Even some powerful EU countries are surprised at the social gathering of the Russian diplomats.

European countries are major trading and development partners of Bangladesh.

Against this backdrop, the top policy-makers in Bangladesh should put their second thought on revising the ‘foreign allowance of Bangladeshi diplomats, at least, to the level of Pakistan and Nepal to brand Bangladesh properly.