Diplomatic Desk:
Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) have agreed to strengthen cooperation in ensuring safe, orderly, and regular migration while preventing irregular migration. Simultaneously, Bangladesh has called for creating greater opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers and professionals in the European labor market.
On Monday (October 12), Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, paid a courtesy call on Shama Obaid Islam, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka. Michael Miller, the EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, was also present during the meeting.
The meeting covered various aspects of mutual cooperation regarding migration management, the return of migrants, the prevention of human trafficking, and combating migrant smuggling.
State Minister Shama Obaid Islam reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to safe, orderly, and regular migration. She urged the EU and its member states to expand employment opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers and professionals. In this regard, she emphasized the importance of establishing realistic, labor-market-demand-driven, and result-oriented labor mobility systems—or “mobility corridors.” She noted that such initiatives would help encourage regular migration.
The State Minister further informed the Commissioner that the Government of Bangladesh has adopted a National Action Plan (NAP) for the 2026–2030 period to implement the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM).
Meanwhile, EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner highlighted the European Union’s “Eastern Corridor Initiative.” The objective of this initiative is to take effective measures to prevent irregular migration to the European Union by engaging all relevant stakeholders, including countries of origin and transit.
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed Bangladesh’s willingness to cooperate in this regard. He also highlighted the various measures Bangladesh has taken to combat document forgery and criminal networks associated with irregular migration.
Shama Obaid Islam stated that preventive measures alone are insufficient to tackle irregular migration; the root causes driving it must also be identified and addressed. At the same time, she emphasized the importance of expanding pathways for regular migration.
Acknowledging the importance of a coordinated approach to address migration-related challenges, both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in this sector.
Discussions were also held on further strengthening the multifaceted partnership between Bangladesh and the European Union. In particular, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to expanding cooperation in trade and investment.
