Dhaka seeks int'l support for securing migrant workers' rights.

As many expatriate workers returned and some remained virtually stranded abroad,

Dhaka urged the international community to play a strong role in ensuring the rights of the migrant workers as per set rules.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen made the call Tuesday at the 'Virtual Pre-GFMD

2020 National Consultation' organised by Parliamentary Caucus on Migration and Development in Dhaka.

Speaking as the chief guest, the foreign minister said during the trying times of COVID-19 pandemic, many of the migrant workers lost their jobs and were in great difficulties as they were not covered by the social-safety nets of the destination countries.

Moreover, he said, "a large number of migrant workers were living or forced to live in crowded environment which was risky for transmission of the virus".

Momen said the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) should take more right-based approach and include protection measures in the migration policies aiming to ensure effective international governance of migration.

Noting that migrant workers need to be included in the social and judicial protection system of the countries of destination to address the gap, he said, stressing the need for ensuring migrants' rights from the early stage of ethical recruitment to wage, health and job protection.

'For that to happen, international community should play key role through platforms like GFMD so that migrant workers are well covered by legal mechanisms in the host countries,' the foreign minister said.

He said GFMD can play a crucial and proactive role in effective implementation of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM), which is landmark initiative for migrants' protection.

Momen said Bangladesh is the host of 1.1 million Rohingyas who were forcibly displaced from their ancestral home.

'Again, Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climatic change. A large number of our population is being displaced due to erratic climate changes every year and we call them climate migrants,' he said.

He said as per varieties of estimate, if there is one-metre rise in sea level, nearly 25 to 30 million people of the country will be uprooted from their sweet homes.

'Bangladesh cannot handle such a huge uprooted population alone. We need effective and proactive support from the international community,' the foreign minister added.

He said Bangladesh would like to see more tangible outcomes from this year's GFMD so that people all over can understand the...