Bangladesh, IOM pledge deeper cooperation on migrant welfare
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury today held a courtesy meeting with the newly appointed Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration in Bangladesh, Dr Laura Tom Bond, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to safe, orderly and regular migration.
The meeting, held at the minister's office in Dhaka on Monday, 6 July 2026, discussed ways to strengthen mutual cooperation to ensure safe migration and protect the welfare of migrant workers.
At the start of the meeting, Ariful Haque Chowdhury congratulated Dr Laura Tom Bond on her new assignment in Bangladesh and welcomed her to the country.
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The minister expressed gratitude for the continued support and professionalism of the International Organisation for Migration in promoting safe and orderly migration. He said the organisation's technical support in formulating migration policies and implementing the national action plan under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration had been commendable.
He said both sides would work together to formulate and implement the national diaspora policy and the reintegration policy for returnee migrants.
Highlighting institutional capacity building and digital transformation at the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the minister said the ministry's and its subordinate agencies' capacity was being strengthened through the OIDF framework.
He also said overall migration services were being modernised through the introduction of an integrated migrant information and service management system.
Referring to ongoing development projects, Ariful Haque Chowdhury said continuity would be maintained in implementing the "Diaspora Project" funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the "RAISE Project" funded by the World Bank and the Wage Earners' Welfare Board, and other projects funded by the European Union.
He expressed the government's firm commitment to further strengthening its long-term partnership with the International Organisation for Migration to create safe employment opportunities, modernise information systems, and advance sustainable development.
Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Mokhter Ahmed said Bangladesh was currently passing through a crucial phase of its demographic dividend.
"We have a large workforce, but more planned initiatives are needed to fully utilise it as a skilled national asset," he said.
He said the strategic and technical support from the International Organisation for Migration would play an important role in preparing Bangladesh's workforce to meet global demand.
Dr Laura Tom Bond praised Bangladesh for its responsible role as a leading champion country in implementing the United Nations Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
She said the International Organisation for Migration would continue to expand its cooperation to help Bangladesh sustain its progress in awareness-building, successful reintegration programmes, safe migration, and women's empowerment.
She also said the 20 specific provisions in the current government's election manifesto were closely aligned with the global action plan and objectives of the International Organisation for Migration.
Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Saiful Haque Chowdhury and Zinat Ara, along with other senior officials of the ministry and International Organization for Migration Bangladesh, were present at the meeting.
