"Nowadays, migration issue is a vital one and it can not be ignored anyway and journalists should pick up the issue in a positive sense", Jeremy Clarke, Chief, Policy and Strategy (Asia Division) of DFID said.

Dhaka University based Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) and DFID jointly organised the discussion on "Migration and Pro-Poor Policies - The Media's Role" at a local hotel where editors and senior journalists expressed their views on the issue.

Pointing out various positive and negative aspects of migration, the discussants said that migrants can contribute to the development of their own country as well the country where they live and work.

Prof Ronald Skeldon of the University of Sussex, UK, Prof Tasneem Siddiqui, chair of RMMRU, Frank Laczko of the International Organisation of Migration, Geneva, and Dr Sushila Zeitlyn and Elizabeth Jones of DFID were present.

Journalists Alamgir Mohiuddin, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Hasan Shahriar, Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Syed Fahim Munaim, Farid Hossain, Badiul Alam, Mozammel Hossain Monju, Afsan Chowdhury, Nayeemul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru, Shyamal Datta and Salim Samad were also present.

The speakers said the issue of migration should be reached the grassroots level so that the people are able to learn their rights as migrants. The media can play important role in this regard.

They also emphasised the role of civil society as an essential element in advocating with governments and representing voices of migrants with a view to protecting their rights.