Diaspora plays major role in global dev

They said if appropriate steps are taken, migration can be beneficial to all- the sending countries, the receiving countries and the migrants themselves.

The seminar was jointly organised by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit of Dhaka University and the British Council

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in the city.

The speakers said massive development in information and communication technology has made it possible for permanent migrants to contribute to the development of their country of permanent settlement and their country of origin.

The Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK and the USA played an important role during the liberation war through international campaign and fund raising, said Prof Tasneem Siddiqui of Dhaka University.

Remittances of the diaspora constitute an important source of foreign exchange earning. Seventy percent of total foreign investment in China came from diaspora, she added.

The Indian government has formally recognised the role of its diaspora in the country's economic development and in influencing public policies of host countries in favour of India during the crisis situation like nuclear explosion and Kargil war, Prof Tasneem added.

In a keynote paper, Prof Stephen Castles, director of Refugee Service Centre of Oxford University, said remittance of foreign currency, acquisitions of skill, and transfer of knowledge are the positive factors in development. These can be achieved through diaspora, he added.

Regional Representative of South Asia International Organisation for Migration Shahidul Haque and Prof M Jafar Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology also spoke at the seminar.