Bangladeshi Diaspora Forum Submits 9-Point Demands to PM Tarique Rahman

Hakikul Islam, New York: A Bangladeshi diaspora organization in the United States has submitted a nine-point set of demands to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, seeking measures to address issues involving the rights, welfare, property and interests of Bangladeshis living abroad. Leaders of the Bangladeshi Diaspora Forum handed over a memorandum containing the demands to the Consul General of Bangladesh in New York on Tuesday afternoon, September 22, 2026.

The Consul General received the memorandum and said the issues raised by the expatriate community would be communicated to the appropriate authorities, according to the forum. The memorandum was submitted while Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was in New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. During his visit, he attended the UNGA opening and held a series of high-level meetings and engagements.

We wanted to meet the prime minister directly

Forum convener Fakhrul Alam said the organization had hoped to meet the prime minister personally and present the demands directly. “We wanted to meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and present these demands to him directly, but that was not possible,” Alam said. He said the prime minister’s New York visit was relatively brief and that his schedule was largely focused on UN-related engagements.

“We were advised to submit the memorandum to the Consul General. We were told that it would be conveyed to the prime minister,” Alam said. The forum expressed hope that the government would give serious consideration to the issues raised by expatriate Bangladeshis and take steps to address them.

Nine demands of expatriate Bangladeshis

According to the memorandum, the Bangladeshi Diaspora Forum has called for action on the following nine issues:

1. Representation in national affairs: Ensure meaningful participation and representation of expatriate Bangladeshis in the Jatiya Sangsad and in the governance of the country.

2. Direct New York-Dhaka flights: Introduce direct flights between New York and Dhaka, including service on the New York-Dhaka-New York route.

3. Priority services for expatriates: Establish effective mechanisms through which expatriate Bangladeshis can receive priority, respectful and efficient services at government offices, administrative agencies and courts in Bangladesh.

4. Protection of land and property: Protect expatriate Bangladeshis from land-related disputes and alleged land grabbing. The forum specifically called for measures to ensure that land, plots and apartments purchased by expatriates under contractual agreements are properly handed over to their rightful owners.

5. End harassment at Dhaka airport: Take effective measures to prevent harassment of expatriate Bangladeshis at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

6. Reduce complications involving dual citizenship: End what the forum describes as unnecessary harassment and complications faced by Bangladeshis holding dual citizenship.

7. Action against money laundering and illicit transfers: Take action to prevent the alleged diversion of large amounts of money abroad, including funds generated through an economy supported by remittances, and bring those responsible for illegal transfers to justice.

8. Ensure safety during visits to Bangladesh: Guarantee the security of life and property of expatriate Bangladeshis when they travel to their homeland.

9. Protect property and expedite legal cases: Protect expatriates’ residential and other movable and immovable properties in Bangladesh and establish mechanisms for the speedy resolution of related legal cases.

Expatriates make significant contributions to Bangladesh

Fakhrul Alam said millions of Bangladeshis living in the United States and other countries continue to contribute to Bangladesh’s economy and society. He said expatriates contribute not only through remittances but also through investment, business, education, healthcare and humanitarian activities.

“Leaving the country is itself a painful experience,” Alam said, adding that many Bangladeshis living abroad continue to support the country’s economy because of their connection to Bangladesh and their sense of responsibility toward their homeland.

According to the forum, successive governments have spoken about protecting the interests of expatriate Bangladeshis and have made various commitments, but many long-standing concerns remain unresolved.

Focus on citizenship, property and consular services

The forum said expatriate Bangladeshis continue to face difficulties involving citizenship rights, property ownership, voting rights, passports and National Identification Cards (NIDs), consular services and investment in Bangladesh. Forum leaders called for long-term government initiatives to address these issues and urged the government to establish more direct communication channels with Bangladeshis living overseas. They also called for expatriate services to be made more accessible, efficient and technology-driven.

The memorandum was endorsed by advisers and members of the Bangladeshi Diaspora Forum, including Dr. Mohsin Patwari, Dr. Iqbal Chowdhury, Dr. Wadud Bhuiyan, Maf Misbah Uddin, Mohammad Shah Moazzem, Attorney Sheikh Selim, Attorney Moin Chowdhury, Mohammad N. Majumder, Engineer Altaf Chowdhury, Sheikh Shahjahan and Fakhrul Alam, along with other members of the organization. The forum said it expects the government to consider the nine demands and take concrete steps to address the concerns of Bangladeshis living abroad.