Mr. Syed Mahbub Elahi

Mr. Syed Mahbub Elahi is a migrant rights activist and since 1997 has been involved with migration-related issues. Currently, Mr. Elahi is the Secretary-General of Bangladesh Migration Development Forum (BMDF) and Executive Member of the National Alliance for Migrant-Rights Bangladesh (NAMR, B). He was past President and Member Rotary Club of Motijheel and Assistant Governor for the year 2016-17 of Rotary District 3281, Bangladesh. He joined WARBE as an Executive Member and due to his active role and commitment to promoting migrant’s rights soon earned him the position of the organization’s Vice-Chairman within a few years. In 2006, he founded a migrants’ grassroots organization named Ovibashi Karmi Kallyan Foundation (OKKAF) and became the first Chairman. Through his active leadership and networking, OKKAF earned the membership of Bangladesh Migration Development Forum (BMDF) and National Alliance for Migrant-Rights Bangladesh (NAMR. B) And presently, he is a free-lance trainer and facilitator.

Mr. Elahi worked as Program Coordinator of “Piloting Reintegration Program for Women Migrant Workers in Bangladesh” with the financial support of UNIFEM (presently UN Women). He worked as a Senior Trainer to aware potential women migrants in the project entitled “Potential Migrant Workers from Garment Factories before going abroad for Job” funded by American Center for International Labor Solidarity Bangladesh. He facilitated the “Need Assessment Workshop for the Libya Returnee,” funded by Winrock International which was organized for 30 returnee migrants from Libya after the war broke out there and they were forced to return to Bangladesh.

He Edited and wrote articles in BMDF Newsletter – a quarterly publication of Bangladesh Migration Development Forum (BMDF), A Keynote paper presented on the eve of “International Labour Day” 2010 on “Rights of Migrant Workers: Migration with Safe and Dignity”, Presented a paper on “GO-BMDF win-win Approach: Compensation to 80 Migrant Workers.” And PowerPoint Presentation on the objectives and activities of BMDF.