Dhaka, Bangladesh: The Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) was officially inaugurated on 27th September by the Honorable Md. Shahidul Islam, ndc, Director General (Additional Secretary), Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training. The MRCs in Dhaka and Cumilla have been operational since March 2020 to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration in Bangladesh.
The MRCs provide neutral and fact-based migration information, through a variety of platforms, to migrants as well as those considering leaving the country to work and study, as well as returnees. Under the Improving Migration Management (IMM) project, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is operationalising the MRCs in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Tajikistan. The MRCs in Bangladesh are funded by the European Union and the Government of Switzerland, working in close cooperation with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
In his remarks, Director General Islam mentioned in Bangla that “when people read about the Migrant Resource Centre, they might think that the “resource” word there is related to money. What they don’t realise is that the resource is referring to information, which is more important than money. Therefore, we have to educate the public that information on migration that is accurate, timely and comprehensive is the key for potential migrants to make their migration safe and regular in order to get the right job and earn more money.”
In addition to awareness raising on migration, MRC Bangladesh provides referral services to the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training, District Employment and Manpower Offices, Probashi Kallyan Bank, Wage Earners’ Welfare Board, Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited, the national helpline number (333 and 999) and other affiliates for various referral services to both intended and returning migrants. In order to raise awareness at the grassroots level, the MRCs conduct various awareness raising orientation sessions with Union Parishad, conduct courtyard meetings, and market-based campaigns in Bangladesh. The MRCs are also providing information on safe immigration to young people and students through Campus Ambassadors from different universities across Bangladesh.
From the Bangladeshi government side, the inauguration of the MRC was also attended by officials from MEWOE, Abujafar Ripon from the Ministry of Local Government, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan from BMET, and principals from Technical Training Centres.
Also in attendance were Nurul Quader from the EU Delegation in Bangladesh and Anindya Dutta from Embassy of Switzerland. Two returning migrants from Malaysia and Oman also briefly shared their experience of needing accurate and timely information before, during and after their migration journey.
Sedef Dearing, ICMPD Regional Coordinator for the Silk Routes region, appreciated the cooperation and engagement of the MEWOE, BMET and DEMOs as well as the support from donors, CSOs, local government officials and academia in participating in MRC activities over the past 18 months. She presented upcoming activities for the MRCs such as the orientation workshops with religious leaders, capacity building for MRC Campus Ambassadors, and financial literacy training for migrants and their families.
The MRCs can be reached through www.mrc-bangladesh.org and info@mrc-bangladesh.org
Mobile numbers: +8801730666936 and +8801713086330
