Bangladesh launches migration taskforce

The government of Bangladesh on Tuesday launched the Migration Compact Taskforce aiming to facilitate the implementation, follow-up, and review of the Global Compact for Migration.

The taskforce will provide a platform to ensure full support and cooperation from all relevant stakeholders through a ‘whole of government’ approach.

Senior government officials and officials from participant UN agencies in the Bangladesh United Nationals Network on Migration were present at the launching event held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen at the event said, “Bangladesh has consistently pursued the issue of migration as a top priority in its diplomatic engagements at the bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels.”

“We would remain committed, despite the difficulties experienced in the past two years and more, to meaningfully deliver on our recognized role as a ‘Champion Country’ for the Global Compact for Migration,” he continues.

Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, said, “We have sent more than 13 million people abroad in the last 50 years. These migrants have contributed to our nation’s development.”

“Migration is complex and multidimensional, and the GCM is a global tool that supports us to manage it safely and with dignity for migrants. The Taskforce launched today will help us with this concerted effort,” he added.

Gwyn Lewis, UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh, said, “The government of Bangladesh has not only recognised migration as a development tool, it has also included it in its development planning showcasing this through the mainstreaming of migration in the 8th Five-year Plan.”

“This taskforce is another step forward in our joint efforts to ensure the safety, dignity, and human rights of all migrants and effectively govern migration,” she added.