Asif Mahmud announces govt support for reverse brain drain

Mentioning a reverse brain campaign during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud on Wednesday said there is a dashboard featuring CVs of students studying abroad and various experts, with plans to provide state support for the initiative.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is creating an employment platform, where the concept of reverse brain drain will be integrated, Asif said during an event to mark International Migrants Day and National Expatriates Day at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

The chief guest of the event was Dr Asif Nazrul, adviser for the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Asif Mahmud said CVs of expatriates willing to return to the country and students who wish to work in the country will be available on the platform.

"We will urge corporate organizations, who hire people from abroad, to employ experts from our country currently living overseas. Additionally, special emphasis will be given to hiring them for government jobs as well."

Referring to the context of the July uprising, the adviser said: "During the time of repression in the movement, when there was no situation for us to take to the streets, when the internet was shut down, and a massacre was being carried out, our expatriate brothers informed the international community about the situation in Bangladesh, protested, and raised their voices globally. This played a significant role in turning the July movement into a one-point demand."

He continued: "I have listened to the experiences and challenges of our expatriate brothers abroad. Even among the diaspora, Awamification (the dominance of the Awami League) has occurred. Due to looting, the strongest group abroad is Awami League supporters. I have heard stories from them about how they were obstructed and faced hurdles."

At the same time, addressing the Election Reform Commission, Asif said: "As a citizen, I would like to request that the commission prepare a roadmap to ensure the voting rights of expatriates. The government will make every effort to ensure the voting rights of expatriates."