Oxfam launches digital platform to connect global Bangladeshi diaspora with national development

Dhaka: Oxfam in Bangladesh on June 28 launched Bridge to Bangladesh, a digital platform aimed at connecting the global Bangladeshi diaspora with the country's development agenda by facilitating knowledge exchange, mentorship, innovation, philanthropy, investment, and institutional partnerships.

The platform, bridgetobd.org, was launched at an event hosted by Oxfam at a hotel in Dhaka, attended by senior government officials, diplomats, development partners, representatives of UN agencies, civil society leaders, academics, private sector representatives, and members of the diaspora.

Describing it as the country's first institutionally anchored diaspora engagement platform, Oxfam said Bridge to Bangladesh serves as a digital ecosystem—accessible via both a website and mobile application—that seeks to convert informal diaspora contributions into structured, transparent, and long-term collaboration.

The platform is expected to connect more than 2.4 million Bangladeshis living abroad with verified organizations and development initiatives in Bangladesh, enabling them to contribute expertise, mentoring, research, advocacy, innovation, philanthropy, investment, and professional networks.

Addressing the event, Foreign Secretary Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam said the government's long-awaited diaspora policy is now in its final stage and is expected to receive approval soon.

He said Bangladesh has been receiving growing investment interest from expatriates and foreign investors, but many have struggled to invest because of inadequate services and a lack of trust in public institutions.

"There is a trust deficit. Many investors want to come to Bangladesh, but they could not connect properly with government institutions or receive the necessary services. Deregulation and reform of government services are essential to improve transparency and facilitate investment," he said.

The foreign secretary also stressed the need to strengthen Bangladesh's overseas missions so they can better support diaspora engagement and investment.

According to Oxfam, the platform has been developed around three guiding principles—trust, political neutrality, and data privacy—to overcome longstanding barriers that discourage diaspora participation.

It is designed to engage a broad spectrum of overseas Bangladeshis, including first-generation migrants, second- and third-generation Bangladeshis, academics, entrepreneurs, professionals, investors, researchers, media leaders, and community organizers.

The platform will operate through two core components: community building and intelligent matchmaking. Community-building features include verified profiles, webinars, thematic discussion forums, networking circles, and recognition systems, while the matchmaking engine will connect diaspora expertise with verified requests from NGOs, educational institutions, youth groups, social enterprises, and other development organizations.

Oxfam said the initiative aims to broaden diaspora contributions beyond remittances by creating opportunities for knowledge transfer, innovation, skills sharing, investment, and sustainable partnerships that support Bangladesh's long-term development.

Among others, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Md. Mokhtar Ahmed, IOM Bangladesh Chief of Mission Dr. Laura Tomm-Bonde, ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tuñón, and UK Member of Parliament Apsana Begum addressed the event.