International Migrants Day
The United Nations declared December 18 as the International Migrants Day through a resolution (No. 55/93) adopted on December 4, 2000. However, the convention came to effect on July 1, 2003 with the ratification by 20 state parties. The number of ratifying states is now 44.
Bangladesh has signed the convention back in 1998. Good news is that the present government has decided to ratify the convention. Unless the provisions of the convention are adopted in the form of national legal framework and implemented effectively, it would bring no result. We need to make a policy and take administrative measures to streamline migration sector. Though the convention is a human rights instrument, it prescribes procedures for management of migration and protection of migrants' rights.
Despite of having a great potential, the migration sector in Bangladesh is apparently left neglected and is facing many hurdles.
There is lack of political will supplemented by lack of administrative and legal measures. At the same time, the existing legal frameworks have proved to be outdated to regulate and it is not taken to implement effectively.
The government should also focus all its activities to promote safe-migration. The so-called anti-human trafficking initiatives and drives should be modified to curb human trafficking.
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