Unlocking Diaspora Potential in Nation-Building under the New Government
Dialogue: Unlocking Diaspora Potential in Nation-Building under the New Government
Date: Saturday, 28 February 2026 | Time: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM | Venue: The Daily Star, Dhaka
Convened by: BOND, Star News, Club JCI, Next 50 & The Daily Star
Background and Rationale
Bangladesh stands at a pivotal moment with the formation of a new government, creating a timely opportunity to redefine and strengthen engagement with its global diaspora. As the country navigates its development trajectory—marked by aspirations for economic transformation, democratic consolidation, and global positioning—the role of the diaspora becomes increasingly strategic.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), there are approximately 2.4 million Bangladeshi diaspora members who reside permanently across the globe. The United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) are among the most prominent host countries, with large, well-established Bangladeshi communities. A significant diaspora population also resides in Italy, alongside notable communities in Japan, Australia, Greece, Canada, Spain, Germany, South Africa, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland.
The contribution of the diaspora to Bangladesh’s economy is both visible and substantial. Remittances continue to play a vital role in sustaining millions of households and supporting macroeconomic stability, with Bangladesh receiving record inflows recently. However, the potential of the diaspora extends far beyond remittances. It encompasses investment, entrepreneurship, innovation, knowledge transfer, global market access, policy influence, and public diplomacy.
Despite this potential, diaspora engagement in Bangladesh remains largely fragmented and under-institutionalised. There are gaps in structured platforms for engagement, limited mechanisms for meaningful participation in policy processes, and challenges related to trust, transparency, and coordination. At the same time, issues surrounding safe migration, skill utilisation, and the reintegration of returnees continue to require attention.
In this context, the new government has a unique opportunity to adopt a more strategic, institutional, and forward-looking approach to diaspora engagement—one that transforms emotional and financial connections into structured partnerships for national development.
This dialogue aims to serve as a platform to bring together key stakeholders to collectively explore how Bangladesh can unlock the full potential of its diaspora for nation-building.
Objective
The objective of the dialogue is to spark the discussion for a shared and actionable agenda for strengthening diaspora engagement under the new government, leveraging diaspora capital, expertise, and networks for inclusive, sustainable, and forward-looking national development.
Expected Outcome:
The dialogue is expected to build a shared understanding among key stakeholders on how to effectively engage the Bangladeshi diaspora in nation-building under the new government. It will identify priority areas such as investment, innovation, knowledge exchange, and policy engagement, while capturing the expectations of diaspora communities.
The discussion will result in actionable recommendations to strengthen institutional mechanisms, foster partnerships, and initiate practical steps toward transforming diaspora potential into meaningful contributions for Bangladesh’s development.