Lack of coordination among different wings of the Bangladesh missions abroad jeopardised the country’s national interests in terms of overseas labour market prospects, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said on Thursday.

“Many of the recent incidents that jeopardised our national interest in terms of market prospect for our expatriate workers were the results of the lack of coordination among different wings of the mission and the tendency of some to work independent as the head of the mission,” she said. The minister made the remark while addressing the concluding session of a three-day training programme for thirteen labour attaches working in the Bangladesh missions abroad organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN Development Fund for Women (Unifem) at Hotel Westin in the capital Dhaka.

Dipu Moni said, "Our government will not tolerate such attitude anymore. Stern actions will be taken against those officers found responsible for such behaviours irrespective of their administrative affiliation." Stating that the issue saddens her when she hears complaints of such nature, she said, "We must remember that an embassy represents the entire government and not any ministry. It is absolutely critical that each embassy functions like a single unit." Asking the labour officials to take special care of the migrant workers who play critical role in the national economy, the foreign minister said it needs extra efforts in reaching out to the migrant workers and win their trust and confidence.

-Daily Star