‘Stronger global coop needed to protect migrants’ rights’: Minister

Bangladesh has stressed the need for stronger global cooperation to curb irregular migration, protect migrants’ rights and ensure fair recruitment, decent work and equitable wages for migrant workers worldwide.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury made these remarks while addressing the General Debate of the Second International Migration Review Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday.

According to a message received on Friday, the minister said Bangladesh is strengthening accountability and expanding migrants’ access to justice through a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” approach.

He said the government has formed a Migration Compact Taskforce and adopted a National Action Plan for 2026�"2030 to promote safe, orderly and regular migration under the UN Global Compact for Migration.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s progress, Ariful said the country has already fulfilled seven out of its 10 commitments made at the first review forum. Bangladesh has also submitted six new pledges and joined two regional initiatives while presenting its first Voluntary National Review on the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration.

The minister identified climate change as an increasingly significant driver of migration and called for predictable financing and enhanced technical support for climate-vulnerable countries.

He also reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to working closely with international partners to ensure safe migration, dignified returns and sustainable reintegration of migrants.