DHAKA, July 6,  (V7N)– Newly-appointed Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Bangladesh, Dr. Laura Tomm Bonde, has praised Bangladesh for its responsible leadership as a champion country in implementing the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, while congratulating the government on its achievements.

Bonde made the remarks during a courtesy call on Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury at his office. She reaffirmed IOM's commitment to providing comprehensive support to sustain Bangladesh's progress in awareness-raising, reintegration of returnee migrants, safe migration promotion, and women's empowerment. She also noted that 20 specific commitments in the government's election manifesto align closely with IOM's global objectives.

Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury congratulated Bonde on her new role and expressed deep appreciation for IOM's continued professionalism and support in promoting safe and orderly migration. He commended IOM's technical assistance in formulating Bangladesh's migration policy and implementing the National Action Plan for the Global Compact for Migration.

He added that both sides would continue collaboration on the National Diaspora Policy and the Reintegration Policy for Returning Migrants. Emphasizing institutional capacity-building and digital transformation, the minister said his ministry and affiliated agencies are being strengthened under the OpenID Foundation (OIDF) Framework, and a comprehensive Migrant Information and Service Management System is being introduced.

Referring to ongoing projects, he noted the IFAD-financed Diaspora Project, the World Bank-funded RAISE Project, the Wage Earners' Welfare Board initiatives, and EU-supported programmes would continue successfully. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to deepening the long-term partnership with IOM to promote safe overseas employment, modernize migration systems, and support sustainable development.

Senior officials including Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Mokhtar Ahmed, Additional Secretaries Md. Saiful Haque Chowdhury and Zinat Ara, along with other ministry and IOM Bangladesh representatives, were present at the meeting.

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