The Bangladeshi migrant workers in different countries face severe psychological problems that start from leaving their home country. In their destination countries, they experience diverse challenges that make them more vulnerable to develop psychological problems.
The situation worsens when they suddenly return to their home country. Furthermore, most of the returnee migrant workers in Bangladesh face unemployment after returning home. This compelling issue of joblessness forces them to experience financial crisis and other social discriminations. When economic crisis adds with evolving psychological problems, their mental health and well-being become vulnerable, according to a study report of the BRAC Migration Programme unveiled on Wednesday in Dhaka.
BRAC Migration Programme conducted this study to identify importance of psycho-social counselling services for the returnees under the Switzerland-funded project, 'Reintegration of Migrant Workers in Bangladesh'.
Prof Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Professor of Dhaka University Psychology Department and Director of Nasirullah Psychotherapy Unit, led the entire study procedures.
Among others, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry Additional Secretary Abdul Mannan, Project Director of Wage Earners Welfare Board ATM Mahbub Ul Karim, National Mental Health Institute Professor Dr Md Delwar Hossain, and BRAC Migration Programme Associate Director Shariful Hasan also spoke at the function. The study stated that the returnee migrants need support for a successful reintegration with the mainstream society. For reintegration of migrants, BRAC Migration Programme and some other organisations have been providing immediate assistance, psychosocial, social and economic reintegration support.
The specific objectives of the study were to explore the necessity of psycho-social counselling services for the returnees to reintegrate with the mainstream, excavate barriers and opportunities of psycho-social reintegration, provide necessary guidance to the BRAC migration programme to address the psycho-social state of the returnees through choosing appropriate tools and method and provide recommendations in the formulation of better strategy and project implementation, it stated.
