Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told the Parliament that massive employment opportunities and suitable academic atmosphere ensured by the present government is preventing brain drain.
"Creation of massive employment in all sectors and establishment of new universities are preventing brain drain from Bangladesh," she said while responding to a tabled question from Awami League lawmaker Habibur Rahman during the Prime Minister's question-answer session.
The Leader of the House said that talented people are now feeling comfortable to work in the country as the government has ensured extensive development of the information and communication technology sector as well as high-speed internet connection.
The present government is highly valuing the talented people through awarding them various prizes, scholarships/stipends and providing employment. The government's steps in evaluating the meritorious person in their respective fields deserve praise, she added.
Mentioning that prevention of brain drain in real sense is a difficult task in the current era of globalisation, Sheikh Hasina said brain drain is taking place in all underdeveloped/developing countries.
The Premier said that her government is providing scholarships or stipends to the meritorious, prioritizing merit in all recruitment processes, creating educational opportunities for meritorious students by establishing new universities.
Prevention of brain drain is very important to uphold the quick development and modernization of Bangladesh, she mentioned.
Sheikh Hasina said that meritorious, skilled and innovative talents are usually transferred abroad due to the lack of desired facilities and infrastructural environment, which disrupt the country's progress and economic growth.
She noted that quality of study in higher educational institutions, environment, global acceptance, education, job as well as permanent residence opportunities along with citizenship is one of the drivers behind brain drain.
"The government is aware of this and that is why it is making efforts to prevent brain drain by creating a suitable environment," she added.
In reply to a query of ruling party lawmaker Afzal Hossain, Hasina said that the government is working tirelessly to ensure orderly, safe and responsible labour migration.
She also informed the House that more than 1.49 crore Bangladeshi workers are working in 176 countries in the world at present.
The Premier said that in the last 12 years, around 81.47 lakh people were confirmed to get jobs in abroad in the professional, skilled, semi-skilled and low-skilled categories.
In response to another question of lawmaker M Abdul Latif, the Prime Minister said that 473 species of fish have been identified in the Bay of Bengal by research conducted by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute. Of these, 11 are new species.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
