Zero tolerance against illegal migration: Shahriar Alam

The government has taken a zero tolerance policy to prevent illegal migration, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said yesterday.

“Our government will not tolerate any illegal practices in migration,” he said the at Brac Migration Media Award 2018 event, held at Brac Centre Inn in the city.

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“…Even one story of successfully reaching Europe illegally cannot be an example [for others to follow],” the state minister said.

He suggested that those who had gone to Libya with the ultimate purpose of reaching Europe illegally should be brought under law.

Bangladesh imposed restrictions on migration to Libya in 2014, considering the civil war there. Yet, some people went there, knowing well what was happening in Libya and the Mediterranean, he added.

Some 40 Bangladeshis were feared dead and 15 were rescued from the Mediterranean on May 9 when a boat carrying nearly 80 people were crossing the sea to reach Europe.

“We don’t encourage illegal migration. We signed an agreement with the European Union, and are bringing back and reintegrating the irregular migrants from Europe,” Shahriar Alam said.

He advised journalists to investigate and identify the middlemen who are duping the overseas jobseekers and leaving them in perilous situations.

EU Acting Head of Cooperation in Bangladesh Doerte Bosse said EU does not want to stop migration but is against dangerous means undertaken to migrate.

She said EU is working with International Organization for Migration and Brac to repatriate and reintegrate irregular Bangladeshi migrants, and create awareness against illegal migration.

Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University, said the government should focus more on welfare of the migrants.

“They should be given more respect at home… Their health and education should get more priority,” he said.

The journalism teacher suggested media to disseminate information so that people are not deceived. He also demanded more allocation of resources for farmers, readymade garment workers and migrant workers -- who are the backbone of the country’s economy.

Brac’s Acting Executive Director Asif Saleh recommended that Bangladesh

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embassies abroad be equipped with more resources to better facilitate the migrants in trouble.

He said migrant voices remain unheard and journalists are the ones who can speak for them.

IOM Chief of Mission Giorgi Gigauri said while there are negative aspects of migration, there are also a lot of positive stories that need to be highlighted.

Shariful Hasan, head of Brac’s Migration Programme, in a presentation said return of migrants, especially women, from the Middle East after facing abuse dominated media reports last year.

This means it is important for the government to take up reintegration and rehabilitation programmes for the abused returnee migrants, he said.

At the event Brac recognised 13 journalists for their commendable reporting last year. They include Md Owasim Uddin Bhuiyan of New Age, Porimol Palma of The Daily Star, Arafat Ara of The Financial Express in the “national newspaper” category and Shafi Chowdhury of Sylhet’s Dainik Jalalabad in “regional newspaper” category.

The awardees in TV news category are: Mejbaul Haque of Independent TV, Meraz Hossain Gazi of Banglavision and Morshed Hasib Hasan of Channel 24. Boni Amin of Independent TV received the award in TV programme category.

The awardee in radio category is Md Mostafizur Rahman of Bangladesh Betar. In online category, the awardees include Imrul Kayes of Priyo.com, Abdullah al Hossain of bdnews24.com and Saddif Sohrab of Bangla Tribune. ATN Bangla Director (debate) Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron got the award in blog/opinion category.

The awards were given under PROTTASHA project funded by the EU, and jointly implemented by IOM and Brac.