Bangladesh 6th largest migrant-origin nation, 8th in remittance earning

Bangladesh has retained its positions as a migrant origin and remittance recipient country – ranking sixth and eighth, respectively – according to the World Migration Report 2024 launched today in Dhaka.

Despite Bangladesh being among the top ten countries in both categories, the flagship migration report of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which was published outside Geneva for the first time, also highlights the challenges faced by expatriates in various destinations.

"While remittances remain a lifeline for many people in the Southern Asia sub-region, including Bangladesh, migrant workers from these countries continue to face a myriad of risks, including financial exploitation, excessive financial debt due to migration costs, xenophobia, and workplace abuses," said the report. 

India again topped the list of countries of origin for international migrants followed by Mexico, Russia, China, and Syria, as per the report based on the data of 2021.

"Pakistan and Bangladesh, which were the sixth and eighth largest international remittance recipients in 2022, also have a significant portion of their populations living abroad as migrant workers, especially in the GCC States," read the report.

Bangladesh secured eighth place in the list of countries with the most remittance inflow, with some $21.50 billion.

Earlier in 2020, Bangladesh had the same position with $21.75 billion in remittances, according to the World Migration Report 2022. 

The top remittance beneficiaries last year were India, Mexico, China, the Philippines, France, Pakistan, and Egypt.

Asif Munier, a migration expert and ILO consultant, speaking with The Business Standard regarding the situation of Bangladeshi migrants mentioned in the report, said, "We have formulated many laws and regulations on immigration, including the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, but we are not seeing much change without proper implementation."

"We know that the cost of immigration is high, but there is no control system. The main reason why migrant workers face various problems, including abuse at work abroad, is that we have not been able to bring the destination state under any kind of obligation," he added.

The expert noted that the government only signs memoranda of understanding with different countries about sending workers, rather than entering into formal agreements. For example, in the case of Malaysia, Bangladesh only signs the documents, but the terms are decided by the destination country, as evidenced by the consequences for workers there.

"Our position in remittances would have been better if there were more skilled workers among those we sent," he said, emphasising the lack of effective measures to create skilled workers.

Meanwhile, during a discussion titled "Future of Migration: Bangladesh Perspective," organised by IOM today, State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury said, "We are determined to improve the condition of expatriates and provide them with security."

"Bangladesh has taken various initiatives to send skilled workers abroad in the future, and the government is working towards that goal," he added.

International migration remains a driver of human development and economic growth, highlighted by a more than 650% increase in international remittances from 2000 to 2022, rising from $128 billion to $831 billion, according to the new global IOM report.

Of that $831 billion in remittances, $647 billion were sent by migrants to low- and middle-income countries. 

After formally releasing the report at a hotel in Dhaka, IOM Director General Amy Pope said the actual amount of remittance would be higher if it went through formal channels.

The report says that while international migration continues to drive human development, challenges persist.

With an estimated 281 million international migrants worldwide, the number of displaced individuals due to conflict, violence, disaster, and other reasons has surged to the highest levels in modern-day records, reaching 117 million, underscoring the urgency of addressing displacement crises.

The IOM DG said Bangladesh became the first champion country of the global compact for migration. 

"We have all the elements of a complex migration landscape in Bangladesh, like how irregular migration can make people vulnerable," she said, adding that "in fact, 12% of the deaths of those crossing the Mediterranean this year have been nationals of this country."

After Pakistan, the Philippines, China, and India, Bangladesh was the fifth largest disaster displacement in the Asia region in 2022, according to the report.

The IOM director general said, "This is the first time we have decided to launch the report outside of Geneva; it is a very intentional decision. And there are many good reasons for it."

"Perhaps, the most prominent reason is that we are launching the global report from Bangladesh because Bangladesh is arguably the birthplace of the migration governance framework under which we operate today," she added.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud attended the report-launching programme.