Dhaka: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has announced that the government is implementing coordinated measures to streamline migration processes, curb document fraud, and protect Bangladeshi citizens both domestically and internationally from illegal syndicates.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the state minister revealed that the foreign ministry has established a dedicated migration wing, aimed at consolidating services for the country's vast expatriate community and aspiring migrant workers. This announcement was made during a briefing with reporters, following an inter-ministerial meeting focused on addressing the use of forged documents and false information in migration-related applications.
The state minister highlighted the challenges faced by Bangladeshis seeking employment abroad, who often fall prey to dishonest middlemen and illegal syndicates. These entities exploit migrants by providing forged documents, which not only harms the country's reputation but also complicates government procedures. The meeting also emphasized the need to raise public awareness and strengthen coordination among the ministries, departments, and agencies involved in migration management.
"Our primary objective is to enable more Bangladeshis to travel abroad legally as skilled workers and make that pathway smoother," Shama said, underscoring the government's commitment to facilitating legal migration. As part of this initiative, a joint committee comprising focal points from relevant government bodies has been formed to oversee and coordinate the efforts.
Representatives from various sectors, including the passport department, immigration authorities, police, and ministries of home affairs, expatriates welfare, commerce, law, and foreign affairs, participated in the meeting. Shama also highlighted the 'One Citizen, One Card' initiative, which aims to centralize citizens' essential information in a database. This system, once implemented, would simplify verification procedures and significantly reduce opportunities for fraudulent activities by syndicates and middlemen.
Until the new system is in place, Shama stressed the importance of ensuring that citizens travel abroad with proper and verified documents. She expressed optimism that the coordinated efforts would yield positive outcomes and significantly reduce migration-related fraud in the future.