New york: Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister, Ariful Haque Choudhury, has urged the international community to bolster efforts in migration governance. He emphasized the necessity for improved data systems, better protection for migrant workers, and a concerted effort to tackle discrimination and misinformation.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Minister Choudhury delivered these remarks while co-chairing the Multi-stakeholder Round Table-4 at the UN International Migration Review Forum held at the UN Headquarters. He highlighted the importance of treating migrant workers as rights-holders rather than mere ‘disposable labour inputs.’
The minister outlined the critical need for precise, disaggregated migration data and called for the enhancement of national statistical systems and inter-agency coordination, while ensuring privacy and human rights safeguards. A statement from the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations underscored these points on Wednesday.
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houdhury advocated for the establishment of multi-service information hubs, digital platforms, and community outreach to provide migrants with timely and reliable information throughout their migration journey. He pointed out the particular vulnerabilities faced by workers in domestic, agricultural, and informal sectors and called for a rights-based approach to combat exploitation and unsafe working conditions.
He further cautioned against the dangers of anti-migrant narratives fueled by xenophobia and misinformation, advocating for accountability measures against hate speech and improved digital literacy. The minister concluded by stressing the importance of deeper bilateral and global cooperation, advocating for a ‘whole-of-government and whole-of-society’ approach to managing migration, with an aim to ensure dignity, protection, and shared prosperity for all involved.