Naogaon underperforms in sending workers abroad

 
NAOGAON, Nov 13:  Naogaon ranks 37th among the country's 64 districts in terms of the number of workers sent abroad, according to statistics maintained by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) since 1976.

Cumilla tops the list, followed by Brahmanbaria and Chattogram.

The reasons behind Naogaon's low ranking and ways to improve its position came up for discussion at a meeting of the District Migration Coordination Committee (DMCC), where participants stressed developing skilled workers, expanding training facilities and increasing overseas employment through safe and legal channels.

The meeting, organised by the district administration, was held at the deputy commissioner's conference room on Wednesday afternoon. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam chaired it.

Addressing the meeting, the DC said trained workers enjoy greater demand, better salaries and higher status in overseas job markets. Workers from countries such as Nepal and the Philippines receive better pay and recognition than many Bangladeshi workers, largely because of their skills and training.

Every worker should receive the necessary training before going abroad, he said, adding that improving skills would create more overseas employment opportunities and help increase remittance earnings.

He said Naogaon needed to improve its position in the national ranking and called on relevant government offices to work together to ensure more people from the district could find jobs abroad. New action plans should be taken if necessary, he added.

Emphasising safe migration, the DC said the risk of fraud could be reduced by following official procedures through the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment. Those who fall victim to fraud can also seek legal action against the perpetrators.

He urged people to remain cautious about middlemen and use legal channels when seeking overseas employment.

Mohammad Samanur Imam, assistant director of the District Employment and Manpower Office and member-secretary of the DMCC, presented the keynote paper.

He said prospective migrant workers needed to obtain proper information, training and knowledge of migration-related rules before leaving the country to ensure safe and regular migration. Following government procedures was essential to avoid fraud by middlemen, he added.

Participants said sending workers abroad alone was not enough; their technical skills and language proficiency also needed to be ensured. They called for more effective training programmes at technical training centres (TTCs) and other relevant institutions.

They also stressed the need to provide prospective migrant workers with loans on easy terms, reliable information and counselling services. Coordinated initiatives at the upazila level were also needed to raise awareness about safe migration.

The meeting discussed ways to ensure safe migration, increase remittances, strengthen skills development and training programmes, form Upazila Migration Coordination Committees (UMCCs) and make the District Vigilance Taskforce Committee more effective.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Ayesha Siddika conducted the meeting.

Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Aminul Islam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Manzur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Department of Women Affairs Amina Khatun, TTC Senior Instructor Mahmud Al Hadi, Probashi Kallyan Bank Manager SM Mahmudul Amin, Youth Development Department Assistant Director Mahmud Akhtar, District Social Services Office Assistant Director Mutasim Billah, Naogaon District Press Club President Md Sadekul Islam and journalist Kazi Kamal Hossain also spoke at the meeting.