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Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury
Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Choudhury has directed law enforcement and administrative authorities to enforce rigorous measures against human traffickers and intermediary middlemen to prevent illegal migration and fraudulent overseas recruitment schemes.
Addressing a multi-stakeholder view-exchange meeting on ensuring safe migration and preventing irregular overseas travel at the Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner's conference room on Tuesday, the minister stressed the immediate identification and legal prosecution of local trafficking syndicates responsible for luring rural youth into perilous journeys abroad that often end in tragic loss of life.
Highlighting the critical importance of workforce readiness, the minister stated:
"Acquiring trade-specific technical skills and language proficiencies prior to overseas employment is just as essential as migrating through authorized channels. If suitable sites across Sunamganj are designated for establishing Technical Training Centres (TTCs) and linguistic courses, the ministry will provide comprehensive infrastructural and logistical support."
Ariful Haque Choudhury also emphasized grassroots awareness campaigns, urging religious community leaders across all local mosques, temples, and churches to actively disseminate information warning against the life-threatening hazards of human smuggling while promoting the socioeconomic benefits of legitimate migration.
Speaking at the session, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Md. Mokhtar Ahmed explained that while the lack of accessible pathways often drives youth toward perilous European migration routes, emerging frameworks—such as the International Labour Organization's (ILO) 'Talent Partnership' initiative—are opening secure, regular employment channels in Italy.
Presenting a keynote analysis, Joint Secretary Md. Shahidul Islam Choudhury pointed out that Bangladesh has continually featured near the apex of irregular European border crossings in recent years, describing it as an alarming situation that creates acute diplomatic embarrassment during bilateral engagements with foreign heads of state.
Chaired by Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Minhazur Rahman, the session was attended by lawmakers Kalim Uddin Ahmed (Sunamganj-5), Nurul Islam (Sunamganj-4), Mohammad Kaysar Ahmed (Sunamganj-3), and Kamruzzaman Kamrul (Sunamganj-1), along with Sunamganj Zilla Parishad Administrator Md. Mizanur Rahman Choudhury, Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Md. Moshiur Rahman, Sylhet Range DIG Dr. Md. Zillur Rahman, and Sunamganj Superintendent of Police A B M Zakir Hossain.
