Bangladeshis Abroad a Life-Line for the National Economy

(07 Sep 09 - RV) Bank officials in Bangladesh said the amount of money sent home by workers living abroad reached a new record high in August An estimated 6.5 million Bangladeshis living and working abroad, mainly in the Middle East, Europe and the United States - sent home a total sum $937m - up 30% from a year ago Millions at home are dependent on money sent by their expatriate relatives - money that has been credited for a sharp decline in poverty in the nation of 144 million people. Officials say remittances are the country's highest revenue earner after exports and have offset the impact of a trade shortfall and kept the overall balance of payments in surplus. Caritas spokesperson in Bangladesh is Mohammed Alauddin. He said remittances are essential to helping millions out of poverty: