Bitish-Bangladeshi professionals organized a seminar titled “One and a half crore expatriate Bangladeshis: How they can play a role in nation building”. Speakers at the seminar held on Wednesday evening, October 16, in the auditorium of the London School of Commerce and IT said that expatriates have played an important role in the anti-discrimination and anti-fascist movement. Expatriates in different countries have besieged Embassies and High Commissions from their respective locations, holding meetings regularly day after day. Over fifty expatriates have been jailed for protesting in the Middle East. Finally, expatriates protested by stopping sending remittances for a month before August 5. So there is no chance of neglecting one and half crore expatriates. Not VIP status at the airport, but participation and rights of expatriates like other citizens in all aspects of Bangladesh should be ensured.

The speakers have also said, we have full support for the current interim government. This government must succeed by any means. Bangladesh will fail if the government fails. After 53 years, a golden opportunity to build the country has come through the successful mass revolution on August the 5th. Depriving expatriates of this opportunity will eventually harm the country. There are about 15 independent countries in the world whose total population will not exceed one and half crore. Therefore, it is not possible to sustainably reform or repair the country by neglecting such a large number of expatriates. If one and half crore expatriates are happy and their fair and reasonable demands are met, in return, the expatriates will send billions of dollars in remittances and boost the country's economy and take the country to another level.

Former senator of Dhaka University Nasrullah Khan Junayed presided over the seminar and eminent lawyer and constitutional expert Barrister Nazir Ahmad moderated and anchored the seminar. Journalist Oliullah Noman gave a welcome speech at the seminar. Those who participated in the discussion: Former teacher of Dhaka University and Commonwealth Scholar Dr. Kamrul Hasan, Former Judge of Bangladesh judiciary Barrister Mujibur Rahman, Eminent Journalist and Surma Editor Shamsul Alam Liton, Former VP of BUET Engineer and Barrister Tareq Aziz, Educationist Muhammad Shah Alam, Barrister Iqbal Hossain, Former British Hospital Consultant Dr. Saifuddin Kislu,Journalist Sayed Chowdhury, Barrister Fakhrul Islam, Agriculturist Akbar Hossain, Advocate Saifur Rahman, Barrister Affindi Liton, Ex-Army Officer Amin Chowdhury, Barrister Nurul Ghaffar, Solicitor Mehdi Hasan, PhD Researcher Khaled Yahya, Religious Personality Hafiz Muhammad Imran, Barrister Muhammad Iqbal Hossain, Community Leader Shafiq Khan, prominent businessman Emdadul Haque, youth leader Nasir Uddin, human rights activist Shah Muhammad Ujjal, social activist Aminul Islam etc. At the end of the programme, one of the organizers of the seminar, Barrister Alimul Haque Liton, thanked everyone.

The following proposals and demands were made in the seminar:

1. Around one and half crore expatriates are living outside Bangladesh. They are citizens of Bangladesh. The four lakh Chakmas have representation in every government, including the current interim government. But the surprising fact is that there has been no expatriate representative in any government for the one and a half crore expatriates. Therefore, we demand to have at least two advisers from among the one and a half crore expatriates to the current interim government.

2. Expatriates have various legitimate claims and grievances. Although these just claims and complaints were sent to the government in the past, no proper or satisfactory response was received. However, remittances sent by expatriates are the second largest foreign exchange earning sector of the country's economy. It is not right to neglect this sector at all. Therefore, we are demanding the formation of a high-powered Reform Commission to reform the fair rights of expatriates, various demands, service standards and complaints handling processes.

3. Many Bangladeshi dual-citizens live in Britain, Europe, America and Australia. Although many take dual-citizenship for practical purposes, they are Bangladeshi citizens by birth and according to the Supreme Court's ruling, no one can take away the citizenship acquired by birth. According to Article 66(2)(c) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, dual citizens cannot be members of Parliament. Even if dual citizens can become judges of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, or even the Chief Justice, there is no reasonable reason to put constitutional barriers and discrimination in the way of becoming MPs. It should be noted that in Britain, the cradle of democracy, dual citizens can become members of the British Parliament. Not only that, there is no obligation to be a British citizen to become an MP in Britain. Anyone settled in Britain with Bangladeshi citizenship and Bangladeshi passport can become a British MP. Therefore, we demand the abolition of the discriminatory Article 66(2)(c) of the Constitution for Bangladeshi citizens acquired by birth who have also acquired dual citizenship.

4. One and a half crore expatriates are living outside Bangladesh. Everyone should not be viewed in the same way. Although the diaspora has no status or rights in the Middle East, British-Bangladeshis are well established in Britain. There are hundreds of skilled professionals who are qualified and established in their respective fields. There are thousands of Oxford, Cambridge and London graduates who can play an important role in the reconstruction of Bangladesh. Former Prime Minister of Malaysia in the construction of modern Malaysia Dr Mahathir Muhammad used to come to Britain and hunt talent among British-Malaysians. We are demanding the current interim government to do so. Although well-established British Bangladeshis have little to take from Bangladesh, they have much to give.

5. Having a valid Bangladeshi passport has been made mandatory for giving power of attorney from Britain since last 2/3 years. It is not clear what is the relation of valid Bangladeshi passport with the power of attorney. No other country in the world has such ridiculous rules. Millions of expatriates living in Britain are in dire straits due to the introduction of these rules. In such a situation, we strongly demand to publish an immediate gazette notification that Bangladeshi passport or British passport or NID card is acceptable as ID for execution of power of attorney.

6. MPs are elected by voters in Bangladesh. However, there is a huge disparity in facilities with those who are elected as MPs. For example, tax free car only for MP, various allocations including state land allocation in Dhaka are given on priority basis. Although the residence and voters (owners of the country) are not guaranteed, special facilities are provided for the MPs. It creates great disparity with the citizens of the state. But the constitution says that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. These discriminatory facilities should be canceled immediately. MPs are not given such discriminatory facilities in any developed democratic country of the world.