As Bangladesh’s economy grows with a huge demographic dividend, expanding safe employment opportunities at home and abroad has become a priority for the government. Priority of the migration sector was also reflected in the government’s national commitment through Election Manifesto 2018 and in its international commitments like Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Said Syeed Ahamed, CEO of IID, explained the migration context and its importance.
IID attended the “Obhibashon o Shonar Manush Shommilon 2019” organized by RMMRU on 28th April 2019 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, Dhaka. The conference had different parallel programs like panel discussions, migration fair and award giving ceremony followed by cultural events. IID conveyed solidarity with RMMRU’s initiative by participating in the panel discussion session.
The Shonar Manush Award honored the Migrant workers, recruiting agencies and other govt. agencies that has significant contribution in improving the migration process of Bangladesh. There was also a migration fair arranged as part of Shonar Manush Shommilon 2019 where the migration related organizations showcased their initiatives to make the migration process fairer and safer.
Syeed AHmed also pointed out that, “The government’s commitment to safe migration was further emphasised when the Prime Minister’s proposal for UN Global Compact on Migration was adopted in the GFMD 2018 in Morocco. However, implementation of these commitments requires support from and collaboration with multi-stakeholders, including civil society and non-government actors. IID is proud to be a part of a consortium promoting fairer labour migration. Being a part of that consortium, it gives me hope and encouragement to see RMMRU not only bringing together the best minds of this sector, and also recognising some of them for their contributions. I wish all the success to this initiativeof the migration process.”
Other discussants in the panel included Shirin Lira, IBP Manager and Gender & Inclusion Adviser of PROKAS, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executice Director of Transparency International Bangladesh, Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Executive Chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), Dr. Saleemul Huq, Director of the International Centre for Climate Change & Development (ICCCAD), Tasneem Siddiqui, Founding Chair of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) and Mr. Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman of WARBE Development Foundation.
IID participated in the migration fair and promoted IID’s migration related mobile app ‘বিভুঁই’ (bibhui) at their stall in the fair. The guests and stakeholders visited the stalls and the event ended with the award ceremony. Dr. Shamsul Alam, Member and Senior Secretary (GED), Bangladesh Planning Commission and Ms. Rownaq Jahan, Secretary of MoEWOE were present as the Chief Guest and Special Guest respectively. Hon’ble Minister of Planning & MP, Mr. M. A. Mannan, was present to grace the event as the Chief Guest of the award giving session.
