On October 30, 2024, The Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants (BCSM) platform organized a national-level roundtable discussion to advocate for the rights of migrant workers and to promote good governance in labour migration. The event took place at the Conference Room, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare & Overseas Employment. Dr. Asif Nazrul, the honorable Advisor to the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, was present as the chief guest. BCSM has consistently engaged in consultative initiatives to address the challenges faced by Bangladeshi migrants and to explore ways to improve policies that affect them. This discussion is a continuation of BCSM’s commitment to fostering dialogue and strengthening the provision arrangements for migrants.
Roundtable Discussion on ‘Violations Human Rights of Migrant: Demand for Responsibility and Accountability’
The Secretary of the Ministry, the Director General (DG) of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), the Director General (DG) of Wage Earner’s Welfare Board, senior officials of Probashi Kallyan Bank (PKB), and Ministry along with representatives of organizations of the BCSM platform were also present, contributing valuable comments and insights.
The co-chair of BCSM, Syed Saiful Haque, warmly welcomed the participants, expressing gratitude for their presence and emphasizing the importance of their contributions to the event. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui, who appreciated the initiatives already taken by the interim government. A written document was shared with specific demands for ensuring the human rights of migrants, addressing current challenges and sufferings of migrant workers, particularly regarding the untimely return of migrant workers, discussions on skill development, the recruitment syndicate of the Malaysian labour market, migration costs, legal rights, and structural development.
In the meeting, a progress report detailing the progress of various steps and activities of the Expatriate Welfare Ministry over the last three months was presented. In light of the discussions, the advisor requested the BCSM platform and RMMRU undertake important responsibilities to ensure the rights of migrants.
The roundtable meeting was organized in association with The Asia Foundation.
