Bangladesh, EU agree to curb irregular migration, human trafficking
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said the EU was ready to support efforts to combat irregular migration and human trafficking and promote legal migration channels
Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) have agreed to work together to prevent irregular migration and human trafficking while expanding employment opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers in the European labour market.
The agreement was reached at a meeting between Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner at the ministry's conference room in Dhaka today (12 October).
Ariful said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was committed to regular migration and had taken strict measures to curb irregular migration and restore discipline in the recruitment sector.
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The licences of 49 recruiting agencies have already been cancelled, he said.
Describing Bangladesh as a "Talent Partner" of the EU in skills development, the minister called for greater access for skilled Bangladeshi workers to the European labour market.
Ministry Secretary Md Mokhtar Ahmed sought EU cooperation under the Bangladesh-EU Talent Partnership to create jobs for Bangladeshi workers in information and communication technology, construction, textiles, shipbuilding, agriculture and hospitality.
He also requested assistance with skills assessment against European standards, certification, language training, digital recruitment systems and the rehabilitation of returning migrants under the National Reintegration Policy 2025.
Brunner said the EU was ready to support efforts to combat irregular migration and human trafficking and promote legal migration channels. Around 500,000 Bangladeshis currently live legally in EU member states, he said.
He also said improvements in Bangladesh's governance and stability had contributed to a better situation regarding asylum applications, adding that Bangladesh was being considered a "safe country".
State Minister Md Nurul Huq, Additional Secretary Md Saiful Islam, Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited Managing Director Mohammad Rashedul Huq, Joint Secretary Md Shahidul Islam Chowdhury and other senior ministry officials attended the meeting.
The EU delegation also included Henrik Nielsen, director of HOME B; Grigorios Delavekouras, a cabinet member; and Lukas Gassner, communications adviser to the commissioner.
The EU Delegation to Bangladesh was represented by Ambassador Michael Miller, Deputy Head of Delegation Baiba Zarina and First Counsellor and Political Officer Kamila Partyka.
