President calls for safe migration, decent employment

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday called for ensuring safe migration, creating decent employment opportunities and developing skilled workforces to strengthen Bangladesh's position on the global stage.

“Let us build a Bangladesh where migration will be safe, employment will be decent, a skilled workforce will strengthen the country's position in the global market, and expatriate and returning workers will become equal partners in national development,” he said.

The President said this at a programme at Hotel InterContinental in the afternoon marking the 30th founding anniversary of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) and the Sonar Manush Sammilan-2026.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and Prime Minister's Political Adviser Zahir Uddin Swapon spoke at the event as distinguished guests. 

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At the event, the President called upon all stakeholders, including the government and the opposition, to work together to ensure the rights and protection of migrants.

“We must remember that behind every dollar of remittance lies a person's labour, sacrifice and dreams. Protecting their rights, ensuring their dignity and utilising their achievements for the country's development are our collective responsibilities,” he said.

The President said, “Expatriate Bangladeshis sent over US$35 billion in remittances in the 2025-26 fiscal year...Our economy remains functional for them, and therefore, our responsibility towards them is much greater.”

Calling for preparing expatriates as skilled workforces, he said, “Unfortunately, we cannot adequately prepare or equip them before they go abroad. As a result, most of them go as unskilled workers. Sometimes, they go without proper documents as well.”

“In some cases, they are unable to do the jobs they were recruited for properly and are forced to live in inhumane conditions,” he added.

Describing his experience about Bangladeshi expats living abroad, the President said, “I had witnessed the difficulties and miserable living conditions of expatriate Bangladeshis. They live extremely hard lives and send all their earnings back home...As a result, they deserve the highest respect in our country.”

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Noting the contribution of expatriates in our economy, he said, “The remittances from expatriates help us to run the state, establish industries and develop the country's economy.”

Recalling the past, he said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, upon returning from the Middle East, informed that Saudi Arabia would recruit 10,000 workers for its municipalities.

“The only requirement was that the workers obtain passports, while Saudi Arabia would bear the cost of tickets and all other expenses,” he said.

Referring to the current changed situation, he said, “But today's situation is exactly the opposite. In addition to their own expenses, the costs charged by those who recruit them, they have to pay a total of Tk5-6 lakhs.”

He also noted that various intermediaries, influential individuals and agencies were largely responsible for the sufferings faced by expatriates. In this context, he called upon the authorities concerned to take punitive actions against the unscrupulous middlemen and the fraud individuals.  

He also highlighted various government initiatives to develop skilled manpower and ensure expatriates' rights, including the establishment of vocational training centers at the upazila level and introduction of ‘Expatriate Card’ along with providing them loan facilities.

The President also acknowledged the contributions of expatriates to the struggle against fascism and thanked them.

He requested the minister concerned to give serious attention to implementing the proposed ‘Migration Decade’ and called for collective efforts to ensure greater protection for migrants.

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Thanking the organizers, Mirza Fakhrul Islam said, “Such international seminars and conferences will play a pivotal role in making migration safer and more planned in the future.”

Earlier, the President handed over ‘Sonar Manush Sammanana Smarak Awards and Crests’ to the recipients in seven categories.

RMMRU Executive Director Dr Tasneem Siddiqui presented the keynote paper at the event and outlined the organization’s upcoming activities, while the organisation's Deputy Executive Director, Motasim Billah, delivered the address of welcome.