The Bangladesh Migration Compact Taskforce, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bangladesh, organized the National Consultation for the Regional Review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) at Hotel InterContinental, Dhaka on Sunday.

Organized under the joint leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment under the Bangladesh Migration Compact Taskforce (BMCT), supported by IOM. The national consultation provided a crucial platform to assess Bangladesh’s progress in the GCM implementation and also identified challenges and opportunities to inform the country’s position at the second GCM Regional Review for Asia and the Pacific, scheduled to be held in February 2025.

As a GCM Champion Country, Bangladesh has been at the forefront to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration. The consultation provided a solid platform to highlight the country’s achievements and provided a forum for dialogue among stakeholders on improved migration governance. Today’s consultation will prepare Bangladesh to showcase its achievements at the Regional Review of GCM in February 2025.

Ambassador Md. Jashim Uddin, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs underlined, "human mobility lies at the heart of today’s global transformations… Migration can be a powerful driver for achieving zero poverty and zero unemployment, aligning with Hon’ble Chief Adviser’s goal of Three Zeroes. 

GCM serves as an instrumental framework for addressing key issues such as looming poly-crisis, climate change, post-pandemic economic recovery, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It reflects our collective commitment to humane and rights-based migration governance… Bangladesh remains steadfast in implementing the GCM and calls for collaborative global action to tackle these shared challenges. Together, we must strive to make migration a safe, dignified, and empowering choice for all.”

Md. Ruhul Amin, Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment reiterated, "the National Consultation provides an opportunity to highlight Bangladesh's progress in implementing the GCM and addressing migration challenges. Through collective efforts, The Government of Bangladesh aims to refine strategies that address these challenges, enhance the rights and well-being of migrants, and align with global best practices for sustainable development."

Iori Kato, Regional Director for IOM Asia and the Pacific, through his video address, stated that “the GCM remains invaluable in guiding migration governance. It responds to new challenges such as climate change, post-pandemic recovery, while contributing to the sustainable development goals.”

The national consultation which concluded on Sunday also included remarks from the Chief of Mission of IOM in Bangladesh, Lance Bonneau, and comprised of two panel discussions focusing on “Ensuring Voluntary, Regular, Safe & Orderly Migration and Strengthening Rights-Based Border Governance” and “Enhancing Migrants’ Protection”, including participants from the Government of Bangladesh and CSOs/NGOs. 

The event also saw enthusiastic participation from all migration actors including development partners, members of the Bangladesh UN Network on Migration (BDUNNM) and other key stakeholders.