In the discussion of the 5th dialogue Media and Diaspora, two suggestions came out. Among them one was to form a Journalists’ Forum on Migration. In order to do so a Journalists Forum on Migration was formed on Tuesday, 31st October 2006 entitled Bangladesh Journalist Forum on Migration (BJFM) through a formal meeting at RMMRU Conference Room. The aim of this forum is to collect stories of successful British Bangladeshi and highlight them in print media.

Members of the Forum:
The forum is consists of 7 members from different press media. They are – Mr. Porimol Palma, Staff Correspondent, The Daily Star, Ms. Mansura Hossain, Staff Reporter, Prothom Alo, Mr. Sheikh Arif Bulbon, Staff Reporter, The New Nation, Ms. Taslima Miji, Staff Reporter, New Age, Mr. Bazlur Rahman, Staff Reporter, The Financial Express, Mr. Rabius Shams, Staff Reporter, The Daily Jai Jai Din, Mr. Mahadi Hasan, Staff Reporter, The News Today, Mr. Bazlur Rahman, Staff Reporter, The Financial Express. Mr. Porimal Palma is the Coordinator of this forum.

Sylhet Workshop:
Recently this forum has organised a dialogue entitled Bangladeshi Diaspora in the UK: Their Linkages with Origin, at the British Council Auditorium in Sylhet, on Wednesday, December 20, 2006. This workshop was supported by the British High Commission, Dhaka, the British Council, Dhaka and Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)

Participants:
There were 25 participants attended the workshop. Among the members of BJFM, Mr. Bazlur Rahman, Ms. Taslima Miji, Mr. Mahadi Hasan, and Mr. Porimal Palma were present at the workshop. Among others there were 16 local journalists, Mr. Masrur Chowdhury, Managing Director of Nandan Group, Mr. Kabir Chowdhury Vice Chancellor of Sylhet Metropolitan University, Diaspora Mr. Nazmul Tafadar and Mr. Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury attended the workshop. Md. Mostafa Sorowar, Junior Programme Officer of RMMRU was also present.

Discussion and Recommendations:
High quality education and government guarantee for Diasporas’ investment can attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the British-Bangladeshis here, which can directly contribute to economic welfare and living standard of the citizens.

Sylhet is advancing toward faster economic growth receiving remittance from abroad mainly from UK, but education system is really substandard.

Mentioning nearly Tk 1.0 billion currently lying idle in the form of fixed deposits at different banks in Sylhet, Masrur Chowdhury said that the government should take immediate measures for utilising this huge amount. He also urged the local businessmen to come to the capital city for investing money so that they can create political and business link-up with the policy makers which is impossible starting business locally.

Expressing satisfaction over the substandard education system, Mr. Kabir Chowdhury said there is no one who will make investment in the education sector, although education is the most equalising factor. He also called upon the Diasporas to make huge investment in rural education system for the sake of sustainable development and greater economic emancipation when the nation is currently grappling with thousands of formidable problems.

Mentioning that there about US$ 3.0 billion hotel business in the UK, Mr. Kabir Chowdhury added that a close linkage between diasporas and local Bangladeshis can attract their investment in Bangladesh.

Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury also underscored the need for congenial business environment and socio-political stability for attracting more FDI in the country, which can change the fate of Bangladeshis drastically.

Nazmul Tafader, currently investing in different projects in Bangladesh and UK, said if they do not take risk then who will come to run the risky ventures? “It is our mother land and we have to share the risk or profit. If we leave the county finally then the economic prospects will be vanishing away,” he said.

Abdur Rois, a participant, expressed his intention that he would also like to invest in the country if business and investment-friendly environment is created in Bangladesh in the meantime.

Identifying the negative mindset of Diasporas’ about existing socio-political condition in Bangladesh, press should come forward to take necessary steps so that diasporas would like to invest their hard-earned currency in Bangladesh.

In fine, three reports including story of a successful British Bangladeshi have been published in the two newspapers as the output of the workshop namely The Financial Express and The News Today.