Diplomatic Desk:
A view-sharing meeting was held on Monday (August 24, 2026) organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure safe, regular and orderly immigration and to improve Bangladesh’s immigration management. The meeting, chaired by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam, MP, was attended by State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md. Nurul Haque, MP, and Advisor to the Prime Minister on the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Mahdi Amin as special guests.
In his speech, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs emphasized on establishing effective linkages between Bangladesh’s leadership and commitment in the world on immigration, national policies and action plans, and the realities on the ground. He placed special emphasis on developing the technical and linguistic skills of prospective immigrants in line with the needs of the constantly changing global labor market.
To this end, he mentioned that it is necessary to increase the capacity of TTCs located in different districts of the country and modernize the training curriculum. At the same time, he emphasized on diversifying Bangladesh’s foreign labor market and expanding regular migration routes.
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs, highlighting the experience and migration picture of his own constituency, expressed concern about irregular migration, human trafficking and migrant smuggling, as well as fraud on digital platforms. At the time, he said, “It is possible to ensure the safety of migrants abroad only by providing effective prevention measures within the country.”
He called for making the migration management integrated, modern and rights-based through a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society process in collaboration with all stakeholders.
The State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment emphasized on formulating migrant-friendly policies and ensuring effective services to migrant seekers and returnees through field administration.
The Prime Minister’s Advisor on Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment welcomed the timely organization of this meeting. He emphasized the need to increase field-level activities to promote safe and regular migration.
The Deputy Commissioners of 14 migration-prone districts participating in the meeting highlighted the migration situation in their respective jurisdictions and their practical experiences and challenges related to the protection of migrants.
In addition, representatives of various ministries and organizations informed the Deputy Commissioners about the government’s priorities and long-term plans to ensure safe, regular and orderly migration and consolidate the country’s migration management.
The discussion emphasized the need to advance Bangladesh’s diplomatic efforts on migration through national policy-making based on the field-level reality. At the same time, the Deputy Commissioners were informed about the labor market needs, conditions and requirements for recruiting workers in the destination country, and relevant information on regular migration received from Bangladesh missions in different countries.
In his speech, the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, highlighted Bangladesh’s statements and commitments presented at the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) held at the United Nations this year, and the positions of destination countries on migration.
The Secretary (Bilateral—East and West) of the same Ministry, Ambassador Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, in his closing remarks, said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will compile the decisions and recommendations arising from the discussions of the meeting. These recommendations will be used to determine a coordinated future course of action in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the Ministry of Home Affairs; representatives from Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL); The Deputy Commissioners of 14 migration-prone districts—Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Tangail, Kishoreganj, Chandpur, Chittagong, Dhaka, Noakhali, Narsingdi, Mymensingh, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Sunamganj—; the Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Dhaka and other relevant stakeholders participated.
