State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam handing over a crest to The Financial Express journalist Arafat Ara who won the Brac Migration Media Award-2018 at Brac Centre Inn in the city on Tuesday — FE Photo The government will show zero tolerance to illegal activities in migration, state minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam said 0n Tuesday.
He was speaking at the BRAC Migration Media Award 2018 event at the BRAC Centre Inn in the city.
"The government will not accept any illegal practices in migration," he added.
"A single case of exploitation or loss of a migrant's life is very much significant for the country," said Mr Alam.
He also said it should not be taken as an example if a few migrants successfully reach Europe through illegal channel.
Because of civil war Bangladesh imposed ban on sending workers to Libya in 2014. But some people went there despite knowing well about the danger, he added.
However, about 40 Bangladeshi nationals died after a boat capsized and 15 were rescued from the Mediterranean recently. They were crossing the sea to reach Europe.
The state minister also urged journalists to investigate and identify the middlemen engaged in illegal migration.
EU Acting Head of Cooperation in Bangladesh, Doerte Bosse, said EU doesn't want to stop migration but dangerous and unprotected migration.
She said EU, therefore, is working with IOM and BRAC to return and reintegrate irregular Bangladeshi migrants and create awareness against illegal migration.
Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University said more focus should be given on migrants' welfare including health and education, respect and dignity.
He also stressed the need for more coverage of migration issues as thousands of people are engaged in this sector.
BRAC has recognised 13 journalists for their quality reporting last year. They include Owasim Uddin Bhuyan of New Age, Porimol Palma of The Daily Star, Arafat Ara of The Financial Express and Shafi Chowdhury of Dainik Jalalabad of Sylhet
The awardees in TV news category are Mezbahul Islam of Independent, Meraz Hossain Gazi of Banglavision and Morshed Hasib Hasan of Channel 24. Boni Amin of Independent Television got the award in TV programme category.
The awardees in radio category are Md Mostafizur Rahman of Bangladesh Betar. In online category, the awardees include Imrul Kayes of Priyo.com, Abdullah al Hossain of bdnews24.com and Saddif Sohrab of Bangla Tribune. ATN Bangla Director (debate) Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron got the award in blog/opinion category.
Shariful Hasan, head of Brac's Migration Programme, presented a power point while IOM Chief of Mission Giorgi Gigauri, BRAC acting executive director Asif Saleh, among others, spoke.
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