Media Consultation on Bangladesh Annual Migration Report-2016

The Welfare Association for the Rights of Bangladeshi Emigrants (WARBE) Development Foundation organized a media consultation on ‘Bangladesh Annual Migration Report-2016’ supported by AWO International e.V. and DanCharch Aid held on 31 December 2016 at A.S. Mahmud Seminar Hall, The Daily Star, Dhaka. In the seminar, Mahjabeen Khaled, Awami League lawmaker also a foreign affairs parliamentary standing committee member, addressed as the chief guest, and the entire program was moderated by Syed Saiful Haque, chairman, WARBE Development Foundation.

WARBE Development Foundation launched the “Bangladesh Annual Migration Report 2016” in this program. Presenting the report, Jasiya Khatoon, Director, WARBE Development Foundation spoke that our migrant workers are being tortured mentally and physically while the risk of being radicalised has emerged in 2016 in the list of challenges. Referring to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training’s (BMET) data the WARBE report says, remittance earnings decreased by 17 percent from US$ 15.27 billion in 2015 to US$ 12.651 billion mainly due to a slump in global oil prices. Sarowat Binte Islam, programme manager of Manusher Jonno Foundation, focused on defending our female migrants from torture.

Shameen Ahmed, Joint Secretary General, Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) said that bilateral agreements are worker-friendly. BMET Director General Selim Reza said our migrant workers should follow proper migration channels. Less dependency on the middle men will reduce the sufferings. Awami League lawmaker Mahjabeen Khaled, also a foreign affairs parliamentary standing committee member, said the government was working on developing a parliamentary caucus to address all issues of migrants.