Migration must be governed upholding dignity, rights: Shama Obaed

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam today (6 April) said their shared objective remains clear to ensure that migration is governed in a manner that upholds the dignity, protection, and rights of people on the move, while maximizing mutual benefits for countries of origin, transit, and destination alike.

Speaking at a national preparatory consultation ahead of the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) 2026, she said the consultation provides a valuable opportunity to reflect collectively on the progress achieved and the challenges that remain in implementing the Global Compact in Bangladesh.

The International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) 2026 will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from  4 to 8 May.

"I hope that our discussions today will offer thoughtful insights and practical recommendations to further strengthen our policies and institutional frameworks," said the state minister.

Speakers at the national consultation emphasised the importance of inclusive dialogues in shaping effective migration policies and the need for continued collaboration and innovation in addressing migration challenges.

They reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to advancing safe, orderly, and regular migration through strengthened partnerships and policy coherence.

The government of Bangladesh, in collaboration with International Organization for Migration (IOM) as the coordinator and Secretariat of the Bangladesh United Nations Network on Migration (BDUNNM) and with the support from the European Union (EU), convened the national preparatory consultation.

The event brought together representatives from government ministries and departments, United Nations agencies, civil society, development partners, academia, and the private sector.

The event, co-chaired by the Bangladesh Migration Compact Taskforce, aimed to assess Bangladesh's progress in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and to identify key priorities for the years ahead.

Adopted in 2018, the GCM provides a comprehensive framework for international cooperation on migration.

The IMRF serves as the global platform to review its implementation.

Bangladesh has demonstrated strong commitment to the GCM through sustained policy engagement and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

The recent soft adaptation of the National Action Plan for GCM (2026–2030) marks a significant milestone in aligning national migration governance with global commitments, IOM said.

Progress has been notable in areas such as labour migration, migrant protection, reintegration and addressing the diverse drivers of migration.

State Minister of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Nurul Hoque said the consultation brings together government institutions, civil society, and development partners to take stock of our progress and identify priorities moving forward.

"Through inclusive dialogue and coordinated action, we aim to ensure that migration continues to contribute to the well-being of our migrant workers and the sustainable development of our nation," he said.

Asad Alam Siam, secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Md Mokhtar Ahmed, secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment; Giuseppe Loprete, chief of Mission a.i. of IOM Bangladesh and Coordinator of BDUNNM; Jurate Smalskyte Merville, counsellor, Team Leader of the Human Capital Development Team of EU; Giuseppe Di Giovanni, migration expert of the Embassy of Italy in Bangladesh; and Syed Saiful Haque, chairman of WARBE DF; spoke among others.

The consultation featured thematic breakout sessions focusing on ensuring safe and regular migration pathways; strengthening rights-based border governance; enhancing migrant protection and integration; and promoting evidence-based policymaking and public discourse.

These sessions provided a platform for participants to share good practices, lessons learned, and emerging priorities.

Key recommendations from the discussions will inform Bangladesh's national position and contributions at IMRF 2026.