Kuala Lumpur, Aug 13 (V7N) – Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus has said the government is working to ensure the voting rights of expatriates in the upcoming national election, emphasizing that the administration is ready to hand over power to elected representatives.

“We are now ready to hand over power to the elected representatives. I have already announced the election time. The government is working to ensure the voting rights of expatriates in this election,” the Chief Advisor told a gathering of Bangladeshi expatriates in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain and Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Advisor Professor Asif Nazrul were also present at the meeting.

The Chief Advisor said that since assuming office, the government has actively engaged with expatriates to address their grievances. “You have many complaints, which are fair. We are continuously trying to solve these problems and reduce complications,” he said.

He noted that the government has taken swift measures to resolve passport-related issues and is introducing the “Citizen Service Bangladesh” initiative to provide all government services to expatriates. Plans are also underway to launch a dedicated mobile app to connect Bangladeshis living abroad on a single platform.

Acknowledging the role of expatriates in Bangladesh’s post-crisis economic recovery, Dr. Yunus said: “The country’s situation has now returned to a comfortable place. You have made a big contribution in the recovery of the economy.”

On the election process, he expressed hope that expatriates would be able to vote this time, saying discussions had been held with the Election Commission and preparations were in progress.

During the meeting, various issues were raised, including increasing manpower at the embassy, introducing a “Graduate Plus” visa for Bangladeshi students, regularizing undocumented workers, and enhancing cooperation with Malaysia in trade and industry. Representatives from different professions, organizations, and the business community participated in the discussions.

END/RH/AJ