A divisional consultation on migration and reintegration, service delivery and referrals has been organised by the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB), Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Bangladesh (MoEWOE) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Sylhet.
The event served as a vital platform to address the challenges of migration and reintegration services, with a strong emphasis on promoting safe migration practices and also recognised the government of Bangladesh-led initiatives in migration and reintegration sector through interventions such as the RAISE project, according to a press release issued on Saturday.
The consultation was supported under Asia Regional Migration Programme (ARMP) funded by Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the State Department, the United States of America (USA), the release added.
Since independence, approximately 16M Bangladeshi men and women have embarked on journeys abroad in search of better livelihoods and have contributed significantly to the nation's economy through remittances.
However, the migration process oftentimes is fraught with risks, ranging from exploitation to human rights violations, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive measures to safeguard the rights and well-being of migrants.
The divisional consultation held in Sylhet as part of an ongoing series of consultations was organised to explore strategies and initiatives to mitigate these risks and ensure the safe migration and dignified return and reintegration of migrants into their communities.
Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh Abdusattor Esoev highlighted the importance of collaborative initiatives to promote safe migration and facilitate the successful reintegration of returnees.
"This consultation is an important platform to address the challenges faced by returnees and to reinforce our joint commitment to promoting safe migration practices," he said.
State Minister for Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury speaking at the consultation as chief guest, reiterated the government's unwavering dedication to promoting safe migration practices and supporting returnees.
He said, “The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment is prioritizing migrant skill development and streamlining services through initiatives like reopening the Probashi Kalyan Cell and establishing Probashi Kalyan Bhabans in eight divisions.”
He further mentioned that “The RAISE project being implemented by the Government in close collaboration with IOM deserves praise for its commendable efforts in promoting sustainable reintegration of returnees and fostering entrepreneurship among workers."
The Chair of the event, Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet Abu Ahmed Siddique highlighted the feedback received from the open discussion and advised on possible ways to resolve them.
He also expressed his gratitude to IOM and the Ministry for organizing this consultation and for providing him with the opportunity to work on the referral systems under the RAISE project at the divisional level.
Sha Migan Shafiur Rahman, BPM (Bar), PPM DIG, Sylhet, Md Zakir Hossain Khan, BPM(Bar), PPM, Police Commissioner, Sylhet Metropolitan Police, Tahmin Ahmed, President, Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sourendra Nath Saha, Project Director, RAISE also spoke at the consultation event and shared their insights.
The successful conclusion of the Divisional Consultation marks a significant step forward in strengthening efforts to support the holistic well-being of returnees and promoting safe migration practices in Bangladesh.
