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Bangladesh has called for stronger cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to expand regular migration opportunities, protect the rights of migrant workers, and promote safe, orderly and regular migration.
The call was made on Monday during a courtesy meeting between State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed and IOM Deputy Director General Ugochi Daniels in Dhaka. The two sides discussed migration management, labour market expansion and humanitarian cooperation.
Shama Obaed said Bangladesh, as a champion country of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), remains committed to implementing global migration commitments through its National Action Plan. She thanked the IOM for its longstanding support to Bangladesh’s development initiatives, humanitarian efforts and the promotion of safe, orderly and regular migration.
The state minister sought enhanced IOM cooperation in expanding legal migration pathways, preventing irregular migration, ensuring ethical recruitment practices and developing a skilled workforce to meet international labour market demands.
She also stressed the need to create new overseas employment opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers in sectors such as healthcare, caregiving and agriculture, while promoting talent partnerships with destination countries.
She highlighted the importance of strengthening awareness and support mechanisms to safeguard the rights and welfare of women migrant workers.
Shama Obaed also praised the IOM’s assistance in evacuating and repatriating stranded Bangladeshis from crisis-affected countries. She underscored the need for continued collaboration on safe return, sustainable reintegration, climate-induced migration, combating human trafficking and preventing migrant smuggling.
Referring to the Rohingya crisis, the state minister commended the IOM’s humanitarian support for the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals sheltered in Bangladesh.
She urged the international community to play a more active role in creating conditions conducive to their safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation.
For his part, IOM Deputy Director General Ugochi Daniels praised Bangladesh’s leadership and initiatives in migration governance.
He also commended the country’s active role in promoting safe, orderly and regular migration at the global level.
At the end of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Bangladesh-IOM partnership to protect migrants’ rights, promote safe and regular migration, and advance Bangladesh’s humanitarian and migration priorities.