Diplomatic Correspondent :
Bangladesh is facing growing pressure on its overseas employment sector as increasing incidents of irregular migration and human trafficking continue to undermine the country’s manpower exports.
In a latest development, 19 irregular Bangladeshi migrants who were unlawfully residing in Tunisia have been voluntarily repatriated to the country, with the joint efforts of the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The group arrived in Dhaka this morning at 8:40am on Emirates flight EK-582. All of them had been staying illegally in Tunisia, having entered the country through irregular channels.
According to government officials, the majority of them were lured by human traffickers with false promises of entry into Europe via the dangerous Mediterranean Sea route.
Their dreams of a better life turned into a nightmare as many among them were subjected to abduction, physical abuse, extortion, and inhumane treatment at various stages of their journey and stay.
Upon arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, officials from the concerned ministries and IOM received the returnees.
They were offered immediate support, including Tk 6,000 in cash, food packages, medical assistance, and temporary shelter if needed. Officials urged them to share their painful experiences with their communities to raise awareness and prevent others from falling into similar traps laid by human trafficking networks.
But these 19 migrants are not the only ones. Similar incidents of voluntary and forced returns are becoming increasingly frequent from countries like Libya, where many Bangladeshi migrants are detained in harsh conditions.
As global scrutiny on irregular migration intensifies, and nations tighten their borders, the space for undocumented movement is shrinking fast-putting Bangladesh’s overseas labor sector in a vulnerable position.
The implications are deeper than just humanitarian concerns. According to migration experts, the growing trend of irregular migration is severely affecting the country’s remittance flow-one of the strongest pillars of the national economy.
Remittances from Bangladeshi migrant workers help stabilise the economy, support millions of families, and contribute to national development. When migrants are deported, detained, or fail to secure legitimate employment, it results in a direct loss of potential remittance earnings, industry insiders said.
Sources said that the global labour market is shrinking for unskilled manpower and many countries are now prioritising skilled labour with technical expertise and language proficiency.
Unfortunately, Bangladesh continues to rely heavily on exporting unskilled and low-skilled workers, many of whom find themselves unable to keep pace with these changing dynamics.
The international manpower market is shrinking, especially for countries like Bangladesh that have not adequately prepared their workforce with the required skills, according to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare.
In addition, the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) has been actively involved in addressing the challenges of both unskilled and irregular manpower export from Bangladesh.
BAIRA recognises the dominance of unskilled workers in overseas employment and is working towards increasing the export of skilled and professional manpower to boost remittances. They also aim to curb irregular migration by promoting legal and ethical recruitment practices.
Data from recent years suggest that Bangladesh has struggled to diversify its labour migration portfolio.
While a few workers are sent to countries with higher-paying jobs, the majority are still going to low-paying markets, often under exploitative conditions.
Officials from IOM and various ministries have emphasised the need for a coordinated national response.
They argue that repatriation efforts must be complemented with stronger pre-departure awareness campaigns, better enforcement against trafficking syndicates, and most importantly, massive investments in skill development for aspiring migrant workers.
Recently, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain underscored that regularisation of legal migration process as he believes it would prevent the tendency of irregular crossing of the borders.
Experts warn that failure to address the root causes of irregular migration, trafficking, and skill gaps in its labour force may lead to long-term consequences for the country’s economic and social stability.
However, the Government of Bangladesh, in coordination with its foreign missions and international partners like IOM, is not only facilitating safe repatriation but also emphasising the urgent need to invest in skill development and awareness to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration in the future.
