DHAKA – Bangladesh has launched a five-year National Action Plan (NAP) to strengthen the protection of migrant workers and improve migration governance, reaffirming its commitment to implementing the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
The National Action Plan 2026-2030, approved by the Cabinet on May 21, was officially unveiled at a ceremony on August 2 in Dhaka organised by the Bangladesh Migration Compact Taskforce (BMCT), which is jointly led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment with technical support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The launch also included a review of the outcomes of the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), highlighting Bangladesh's contributions to the global migration agenda, as reported by The Bangladesh Monitor.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury attended the event as chief guest, while State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam chaired the programme.
Officials said the action plan aims to promote safer, more orderly and regular migration while maximising migration's contribution to Bangladesh's socio-economic development.
Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam and Expatriates' Welfare Secretary Md. Mokhtar Ahmed, who co-chair the BMCT, outlined the significance of the roadmap and its role in implementing the country's migration commitments.
Speakers at the event called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, international organisations, civil society, the private sector and migrant communities to ensure the successful implementation of the plan.
They also reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to safeguarding the rights, dignity and welfare of its migrant workers while strengthening migration governance and labour mobility.
The event featured the formal launch of the National Action Plan, renewed national commitments towards implementing the Global Compact for Migration, presentations by civil society representatives, a documentary on Bangladesh's migration journey, and a thematic exhibition highlighting the country's migration achievements and challenges.
