Migration governance vital to national security: PM's defence adviser
"Ensuring safe mobility of people, legal employment opportunities, orderly cross-border movement, and protection of the rights and dignity of Bangladeshi nationals abroad are now important dimensions of national security," he said.
Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam today (6 August) said migration governance is no longer merely an issue of the economy, employment or labour markets, but has become an integral component of national security amid evolving global and geopolitical realities.
"Migration management is directly linked to a country's internal stability, border security, humanitarian protection and overall national security," he said while delivering a keynote speech titled "Migration Governance as a National Security Instrument in Bangladesh" at the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) in Mirpur Cantonment here.
Dr Shamsul Islam said the concept of security has expanded beyond the protection of territorial integrity and geographical borders.
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"Ensuring safe mobility of people, legal employment opportunities, orderly cross-border movement, and protection of the rights and dignity of Bangladeshi nationals abroad are now important dimensions of national security," he said.
The Defence Adviser warned that failure to ensure safe, orderly and well-managed migration could pose multidimensional challenges to internal stability, border management and regional security.
Highlighting the economic significance of overseas employment, he said remittances continue to play a vital role in Bangladesh's economy.
He underscored the need to develop a skilled workforce, expand opportunities for safe and regular migration, and ensure adequate knowledge, training and protection for migrant workers before their departure.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening coordination among relevant institutions to curb irregular migration, human trafficking, fraud and transnational criminal networks.
The Defence Adviser said Bangladeshi expatriates are key contributors to both the national economy and the country's international image.
"Their rights, security and dignity must be safeguarded, while crisis-response mechanisms for Bangladeshi citizens abroad should be further strengthened," he added.
Dr Shamsul Islam called for formulating a comprehensive, humane and security-oriented migration framework by integrating the economic, humanitarian, social and security dimensions of migration.
He also emphasised policy-oriented research, reliable databases, skilled human resources and stronger institutional coordination for effective migration governance.
An interactive question-and-answer session followed the keynote speech, during which BUP students raised questions on migration policy, human trafficking, migrant protection, border management, regional geopolitics and national security.
The Defence Adviser responded to their queries and shared his observations on the growing strategic importance of migration governance.
Earlier, BUP Vice-Chancellor Major General Md Mahbub-ul Alam welcomed the Defence Adviser on his arrival at the university.
Senior military and civil officials, deans, faculty members, researchers and students attended the programme.
