As per the decision of the government of Bangladesh, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) in association with the District Administration and District Employment and Manpower Officer of Cox’s Bazar celebrated “International Migrants Day and National Expatriates Day 2024 in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. As a local organization, YPSA collaborated with the district administration in the organizing the program.
Dignitaries from different government departments and non-government agencies including law enforcement agencies, journalists, Technical Training Center (TTC) NGOs, Banks participated in the program. Besides, migrant workers and their family members, aspirant migrants, trafficking survivors and general people spontaneously attended the program. From YPSA, Mr. Jishu Barua, Assistant Director and Counter Trafficking Focal, Ms. Hosne Ara Rekha, Project Manager of YPSA FSTIP Project, Mr. Suvra Adhikari, Ms. Shanuching Marma,and Mr. Tanim Rahman Mitu, Project Officer and other officials attended the program.
The program had two segments including Rally and Discussion on the significance of the day celebration. A rally was brought out to mark the day, inaugurated by Mr. Mohammad Salahuddin, Deputy Commissioner & District Magistrate of Cox’s Bazar, accompanied by his team. The rally was joined by people of all walks of life, which marched in the city.
The rally was followed by a discussion program held in the DC conference room at 10:00am. The discussion program was presided over by Mr. Md. Yamin Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) while Mr. Mohammad Salahuddin, District Commissioner was present as the Chief Guest in the discussion program. At the onset of the discussion program, the Key Note on the National Expatriates’ Day was presented by Mr. Liton Kanti Chowdhury, Deputy Director, DEMO, Cox’s Bazar. A panel of discussants from different sectors took part in the discussion program. From the NGO sector, Mr. Jishu Barua, Assistant Director and Counter Trafficking Focal of YPSA discussed the significance of the day. In his speech, Mr. Jishu Barua said, “Rights to Migration is human rights. People should move to different places for their own purposes and it should be fair. But, sometimes, many people become victims of trafficking due to their unawareness about the government rules and facilities which could be got free of cost. YPSA collaborates with the government to create awareness among the community people both on counter trafficking and fairer migration.” In Cox’s Bazar, certain segments of people are the easy targets of human trafficking, divorcee women, unemployed youth and adolescents. Although many of people in Cox’s Bazar go abroad maintaining government formalities, due to false information and documents provided by the traffickers, they fall in the trap of trafficking. As a result, they become exploited economically, physically and socially, added Mr. Jishu Barua.
In his speech, Mr. Mohammad Salahuddin, District Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar said, “I witnessed myself how our migrant workers work in overseas and send remittance to Bangladesh. Our remittance fighters earn money by three things – tear, sweat and blood. We should salute them as they spend the golden time of their lives earning money for their families as well as for this country.”
Mr. Md. Yamin Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) concluded the program by saying that protection of property and rights of the migrants must be ensured as they work hard abroad for pushing our country ahead economically. He added that it is our moral duty to ensure that each and every migrants get their due honor and good living in the country.
