IOM helps govt develop migration action plans for nine districts

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is assisting the Bangladesh government in developing district-level action plans to improve migration services, strengthen protection for migrant workers and support the reintegration of returnees.

The initiative will be piloted in nine districts, with the first strategic workshop held in Madaripur on Wednesday. Similar workshops will be organised in Chapainawabganj, Sunamganj, Cumilla, Feni, Patuakhali, Khulna, Rangpur and Jamalpur.

The initiative is being implemented under the EU-funded project Prottasha II: Strengthening Service Delivery Systems for Improved Migration Management and Sustainable Reintegration, in collaboration with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

The project aims to translate national migration priorities and the government's five-year strategic framework for reform and development into practical actions tailored to local needs. It also seeks to improve migrants' access to information on safe and regular migration, government services, protection and reintegration support.

Chaired by Madaripur Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Morzina Akter, the workshop brought together representatives from the district administration, police, Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), Wage Earners' Welfare Board, Probashi Kallyan Bank, technical training centres, other government offices, migration service providers and civil society organisations.

Participants identified migration-related challenges, gaps in existing services and barriers that prevent migrants and their families from accessing support. They also discussed priority interventions, institutional responsibilities, implementation timelines and coordination mechanisms for the proposed district action plans.

Speaking as the chief guest, Salahuddin, joint secretary at the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, said maximising the benefits of migration required better preparation of prospective migrant workers, protection throughout the migration process and stronger support for their reintegration upon return.

The district-level action plans would connect national migration priorities with local realities and help establish a more coordinated and sustainable migration management system across the country, he said.

Madaripur Deputy Commissioner Morzina Akter stressed the need for stronger coordination among local institutions to ensure that migrants and their family members could access reliable information and essential services.

The initiative would help identify local challenges and determine practical measures to make migration services more accessible, inclusive and responsive to people's needs, she said.

IOM Bangladesh works with the government and local stakeholders to strengthen migration management, expand opportunities for safe, orderly and regular migration, and support the sustainable reintegration of returning migrants.