Monitoring of recruiting agencies, govt instts stressed
Speakers at a roundtable yesterday underscored the need for an effective mechanism for the monitoring of recruiting agencies and relevant government institutions for proper management of migration.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) jointly organised the daylong roundtable titled 'Irregular migration' at a city hotel.
The programme was organised as part of an ongoing USAID Bangladesh-sponsored project 'Counter-trafficking interventions in prevention, protection and prosecution for victims of trafficking in persons in Bangladesh'.
Additional Foreign Secretary MAK Mahmood was the chief guest at the closing session, moderated by Rabab Fatima, regional representative for South Asia, IOM.
Mahmood said well managed migration can be a key contributor to development of Bangladesh.
He urged for an effective mechanism for the monitoring of recruiting agencies for proper management of migration.
Mahmood said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign missions abroad can play a pivotal role in this regard.
He said it is important to make sure that the migrant workers receive proper treatment at the destination countries and it will benefit those countries as well.
The additional secretary also said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may co-ordinate with all other ministries and agencies, including NGOs and civil society, in all matters relating to migration.
Rabab Fatima said irregular migration and trafficking are crosscutting issues and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a vital role in dealing with the problem.
She observed that the existing Emigration Ordinance 1982 does not have any provision guaranteeing the rights of labour migrants.
Fatima urged for modification of the existing legal framework and having a comprehensive migration policy in place in Bangladesh. She mentioned that the IOM would be pleased to get associated with such a process.
She mentioned that Bangladesh is at risk to lose its competitive edge and credibility in the labour market due to the ongoing exploitation in the labour migration processes.
A total of 20 officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took part in the roundtable.
Different sessions of the roundtable were conducted by Supradip Chakma, director general, Consular Welfare of the MOFA, Sk. Abdur Rashid, additional secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Kapil Gupta, second secretary, US Embassy in Bangladesh, Naim Ahmed, an advocate of Supreme Court, Mizanur Rahman and Dr Uttam Kumar Das of IOM.
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