Referring to post 9/11 situations that greatly altered the level of tolerance in respect of migrants he said, "If there is a prejudiced mindset, the global war against terror will surely suffer setback."

The foreign secretary was speaking as chief guest at the concluding session of a two-day workshop on 'Population movement: Non-traditional issues in South Asian security discourse (NTS)' at Brac Inn Centre in the city.

Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit of Dhaka University (DU) organised the workshop.

A country cannot ensure its security by keeping out its migrant workers that are meant for its enrichment, Hemayetuddin said, adding, security is not a function of isolation.

"We are safer when people around us share mutual trust, respect and tolerance. An increasingly isolated and inaccessible state, no matter how big and powerful, is unlikely to be able to address its security concerns effectively," he added.

Terming growing protectionist sentiments in many western countries 'unfortunate' the secretary said panic and xenophobia are being spread to prevent new migration instead of showing its merits.

He said migration has turned into a contentious issue and xenophobia, discrimination, uncertainty and lack of opportunities tend to make the lives of migrants unbearable.

It needs to be established that migration of unskilled and semi-skilled labour benefits the rich countries as much as it helps the poor labour supplying countries, he added.

A statement of DU Vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz, circulated in the workshop, said stricter regulations to control the movement of people across national frontiers have made it extremely difficult for semi-skilled and unskilled workers to move across the border for livelihood.

Faiz, who was scheduled to chair the session but could not attend, said the absence of legal opportunities leads more people to use irregular channels which ultimately make their lives vulnerable in foreign lands.

Advisor on NTS issues Dr Iftekharuzzaman said migrants in most developed countries are viewed as a security threat.

Migration, therefore, needs to be seen from a development perspective, which, in reality strengthens global peace and security, he noted.

Dr Mahendra P Lama, professor of South Asian Economies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, Professor Jagannath Adhikari of Nepal Institute of Development Studies, Dr Tasneem Siddiqui and Dr CR Abrar of Dhaka University, and Professor ST Hettige of University of Sri Lanka presented briefs of their studies on NTS.