Dhaka: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam emphasized the importance of governing migration with a focus on dignity, protection, and rights of people on the move, while maximizing benefits for all involved nations. She highlighted this during a national preparatory consultation for the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) 2026.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the consultation offered an opportunity to reflect on the progress and challenges in implementing the Global Compact for Migration in Bangladesh. The IMRF 2026 is scheduled to take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from May 4 to 8.
Shama Obaed expressed hope that the discussions would provide valuable insights and recommendations to enhance policies and institutional frameworks. Various speakers underlined the significance of inclusive dialogues in shaping effective migration policies and stressed the need for collaboration and innovation to address migration challenges.
The government of Bangladesh organized the consultation in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), serving as the Coordinator and Secretariat of the Bangladesh United Nations Network on Migration (BDUNNM), and with support from the European Union (EU). The event gathered representatives from government, United Nations agencies, civil society, and other sectors.
Co-chaired by the Bangladesh Migration Compact Taskforce, the event assessed Bangladesh’s progress in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and identified key priorities going forward. Adopted in 2018, the GCM provides a framework for international cooperation on migration, with the IMRF serving as the platform to review its implementation.
Notable progress has been made in areas like labor migration, migrant protection, and reintegration. The recent soft adaptation of the National Action Plan for GCM (2026-2030) marks a milestone in aligning national migration governance with global commitments, noted IOM.
State Minister of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Nurul Hoque stated that the consultation aimed to review progress and set priorities to ensure migration contributes to the well-being of migrant workers and sustainable development.
The consultation included thematic breakout sessions on safe and regular migration pathways, rights-based border governance, migrant protection, integration, and evidence-based policymaking. Participants shared good practices and emerging priorities, with recommendations set to inform Bangladesh’s national position at IMRF 2026.