Economic Reporter :
Migrant rights activists on Thursdaysought immediate intervention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stop visa trading aiming to reduce migration cost for the outgoing migrant workers.
They came up with the appeal while speaking at a national conference organised by Bangladesh Ovibashi Adhikar Forum (BOAF) at Jatiya Press Club on Thursday.
Representatives from Parliamentarians’ Caucus, civil society organisations and recruiting agencies, who spoke at the conference, stressed creating massive awareness at the grassroots level to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration from Bangladesh.
Speaking as the chief guest, member of Parliamentarians’ Caucus on Migration and Development Jebunnesa Afroz, MP, said as the country’s economy has been vibrant with remittance sent by migrant workers, so their safety and security would have to be protected.
She said prime minister’s office, ministries of expatriates welfare and overseas employment, foreign affairs and youth would have to work together to ensure safe and skilled migration.
The lawmaker urged the government and non-government organisations to work together to create awareness at the grassroots level about safe migration.
BOAF chief adviser Syed Saiful Haque said inflow of remittances has reduced in outgoing year especially from Saudi Arabia due to visa trading that caused the high cost of migration.
The intervention of the prime minister was urgently needed to stop the visa trading, he said.
Saiful Haque, also a returnee migrant turned right campaigner, said poor migrant workers have been sending their hard earned remittance back home although the government has no provided incentives for them.
Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies joint secretary general Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman said due to lack of physical fitness, training and communication skills, Bangladeshi workers were paid low wages in destination countries.
Programme officer of International Labour Organizations Rahnuma Salam Khan said campaigns should be launched at remote grassroots areas, villages and towns to ensure safe migration.
She suggested that each of the migrant workers must have skill on specific trade, get knowledge on spoken languages and abide by the rules of the recipient countries.
BOAF secretary general Faruque Ahmed said at least 22 Bangladeshi female migrant workers have recently committed suicide in the Middle East countries and many female workers were still facing abuses and other problems.
He said the female domestic workers should not be sent abroad without taking protective measures for them. Migration expert Asif Munir, BOAF Chairman Nazmul Ahsan, Bright Bangladesh Forum executive director Utpal Baua and WARBE Development Foundation director Jasiya Khatoona, among others, also spoke at the conference.
Migrant rights activists on Thursdaysought immediate intervention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stop visa trading aiming to reduce migration cost for the outgoing migrant workers.
They came up with the appeal while speaking at a national conference organised by Bangladesh Ovibashi Adhikar Forum (BOAF) at Jatiya Press Club on Thursday.
Representatives from Parliamentarians’ Caucus, civil society organisations and recruiting agencies, who spoke at the conference, stressed creating massive awareness at the grassroots level to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration from Bangladesh.
Speaking as the chief guest, member of Parliamentarians’ Caucus on Migration and Development Jebunnesa Afroz, MP, said as the country’s economy has been vibrant with remittance sent by migrant workers, so their safety and security would have to be protected.
She said prime minister’s office, ministries of expatriates welfare and overseas employment, foreign affairs and youth would have to work together to ensure safe and skilled migration.
The lawmaker urged the government and non-government organisations to work together to create awareness at the grassroots level about safe migration.
BOAF chief adviser Syed Saiful Haque said inflow of remittances has reduced in outgoing year especially from Saudi Arabia due to visa trading that caused the high cost of migration.
The intervention of the prime minister was urgently needed to stop the visa trading, he said.
Saiful Haque, also a returnee migrant turned right campaigner, said poor migrant workers have been sending their hard earned remittance back home although the government has no provided incentives for them.
Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies joint secretary general Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman said due to lack of physical fitness, training and communication skills, Bangladeshi workers were paid low wages in destination countries.
Programme officer of International Labour Organizations Rahnuma Salam Khan said campaigns should be launched at remote grassroots areas, villages and towns to ensure safe migration.
She suggested that each of the migrant workers must have skill on specific trade, get knowledge on spoken languages and abide by the rules of the recipient countries.
BOAF secretary general Faruque Ahmed said at least 22 Bangladeshi female migrant workers have recently committed suicide in the Middle East countries and many female workers were still facing abuses and other problems.
He said the female domestic workers should not be sent abroad without taking protective measures for them. Migration expert Asif Munir, BOAF Chairman Nazmul Ahsan, Bright Bangladesh Forum executive director Utpal Baua and WARBE Development Foundation director Jasiya Khatoona, among others, also spoke at the conference.
