Thrust on ensuring safe migration

Migrant rights groups suggested on Monday the need for internal coordination among ministries, NGOs and other stakeholders concerned to ensure safe and orderly migration of Bangladeshi workers.

They were speaking at a workshop titled 'Brainsto-rming, Conceptualization and Identifying Key Stakeholders to Develop Framework for Coordination along with Draft Strategy Plan'.

Different Non-Governm-ental Organisations (NGOs), which are working with labour migration issues, participated in the workshop organised by WARBE Development Foundation (WARBE DF) at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity.

The speakers said relevant ministries like Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Home and Foreign Affairs should work in a coordinated manner to prevent malpractices in the process of migration.

They said human trafficking and workplace exploitations in the job destination countries could be addressed successfully if the ministries work together. They also stressed the need for coordination among the NGOs to make fruitful changes in this sector.

They suggested bringing all the leading NGOs under a network to support the government's policy. Besides, the network will raise voice or make statements on current issues regarding migrant rights.

Migration expert Asif Munier moderated the workshop where WARBE DF chairman Syed Saiful Haque, executive director of Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra-BNSK Sumaiya Islam and head of BRAC Migration Programme Shariful Islam, among others, were present at the programme.

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