For decades, they have lived abroad-some in America, others in Australia, Canada, London, Sydney, Dubai, or Japan. Now, in response to their homeland’s needs, they are returning to Bangladesh with a vision: to eradicate poverty, ensure zero unemployment, and zero carbon emissions while channeling billions of dollars into transformative investments for the nation. These funds will be deployed in a revolving manner to facilitate sustainable transitions in agriculture, industry, and technology, as well as impactful social development initiatives. Every update will be transparently available through an app. The initiative, conceived in October, officially launched on December 26 and will continue until December 2026 to raise the required funds.
The collected investments will follow a social business model, financing education, technology, healthcare, and agriculture. Although it is primarily funded by expatriates, Bangladeshis will also have the opportunity to participate in its management.
On Friday, the vision of this ambitious project was unveiled at a workshop hosted by “Billions for Bangladesh” (BFB) at a hotel in Dhaka. Promoting the principles of trust, transparency, and transformative action, BFB aspires to reshape the nation.
Mahadiuzzaman Apu, who left an offer from Google to pursue this dream, explained the educational vision. “Our students excel at NASA competitions and math Olympiads, yet 2.5 million drop out between grades four and eight annually. We aim to employ these talented youth as mentors in classrooms, while also engaging the 500,000 unemployed university graduates to teach according to their expertise. Investment in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education must be transformative as they hold immense potential.”
Co-founder Anis M. Rahman elaborated on the fundraising plan, aiming to collect $1,000 each from one million expatriates and shares worth $1,000 per person. Students can also contribute with $100. The investment cap per individual is set at $1,000.
The initiative will involve 40 board members and expatriate representatives from 200 countries. Former FBCCI Senior Vice President Amin Helali expressed optimism, emphasizing the need for revolutionary changes in the education system, alongside moral and ethical teachings. “This collective effort is for the future generations,” he remarked.
Investment experts, including Jan Rumi, Anisur Rahman (editor of Saptahik Thikana), Enamur Rahman Enam (expatriate journalist), Preeti Chakraborty (Chairperson of Universal Medical), Niaz Rahim (Group Admin of Rahim Afroz), and Mohammad A. Kabir Jashir (BFB co-founder), were present at the workshop.
During the session, Dr. Ashish Chakraborty, founder of Universal Medical College & Hospital, announced plans to initiate organ transplant programs in Bangladesh. Murad Yusuf, president of the Bangladeshi Association in Australia, noted that expatriates are collectively investing from Zakat funds to give back to Bangladesh.
New York Attorney General Mausumi Khan expressed confidence that this initiative could elevate Bangladesh to new heights. Himi Hossain, Secretary of the Australia-Bangladesh Chamber, stated, “We have much to offer to Bangladesh from our experiences as expatriates. This initiative provides us with the opportunity to give back.”
Alimuzzaman from Japan endorsed this welfare-oriented social business model. Young representative Nafis Shahin highlighted the need to prioritize mental health and media engagement for the new generation. Azim Dewan, founder of the Canada-Bangladesh Business Council, welcomed the involvement of students in nation-building efforts, while Mahie Islam, a young representative from Japan, emphasized the importance of retaining skilled talent within Bangladesh to strengthen local industries. Kamal Mahmud from GM Consulting also warned of the implications of an AI revolution.
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