Prottasha hotline service to merge with Probashbondhu call centre

Prottasha hotline service that provide comprehensive information to migrants and their communities is set to merge with the Probashbondhu call centre of Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB).

The hotline service which was established under Prottasha project was handed over to the WEWB in a ceremony on Sunday at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, said a press release.

Supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its implementing partner is BRAC, under “Bangladesh: Sustainable Reintegration and Improved Migration Governance (Prottasha)” project funded by the European Union (EU).

After merging with the Prottasha hotline services, WEWB will be able to provide more holistic and comprehensive information to both aspirant migrants and returnees, promote safe, orderly, and regular migration and migration related services 24/7.

Bangladesh have sixth highest number of migrant workers in foreign countries and is the eighth highest receiver of remittances as one million Bangladeshis go abroad every year approximately. Currently, around 13 million Bangladeshi nationals are working overseas who contribute to the national economy through remittances.

Prottasha project established the hotline service in 2019 to provide information regarding safe migration and reintegration to the aspirant and returned migrants and their families.

Similarly, considering the significant contribution of expatriate workers and importance of providing information to them, WEWB also established the Probashbondhu Call Center in 2017.

Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Imran Ahmad said, “International migration and remittances have played an important role to the economy of Bangladesh. Migration continues is an important area for Bangladesh as we have a large young population and two million new entrants into the labour market each year.”

“Access to information is the key to make conscious decisions. The Ministry has initiated many activities including establishing hotline to provide information to migrants and aspirant migrants.” he said.

IOM Officer-in-Charge of Bangladesh Fathima Nusrath Ghazzali said, “Migrants play a significant role in Bangladesh’s national development with their remittances. However, there are some challenges, including irregular migration and human trafficking. Information plays a critical role in addressing these challenges. I thank the government of Bangladesh and the delegation of the EU for supporting the establishment of the Prottasha hotline service to provide critical information to migrants and their communities,”

Charles Whiteley, Ambassador of the delegation of the EU to Bangladesh, Secretary of MoEWOE Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, and Director General of WEWB Md Hamidur Rahman also spoke there, among others.

The Probashbondhu Call Centre provides all necessary information on migration and can be accessed via four telephone numbers. Anyone in Bangladesh can seek information by contacting the local number (08000102030) for free of cost.

Callers from home and abroad can also connect with the center through the numbers (09610102030, 01794333333, 01784333333) at any time.