Staff Reporter:
Bangladesh and the United Nations yesterday emphasized strengthened cooperation with the Maldives to ensure the rights, security and welfare of immigrant workers, mostly Bangladeshis, in the Maldives.
The discussion was held during a meeting between UN Resident Coordinator in Maldives Hao Zhang and Bangladesh High Commissioner to the Maldives Dr Md Nazmul Islam in Mal, on Monday, according to a message received yesterday.
During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand ongoing collaboration among the UN, Bangla-desh and the Maldives, placing particular focus on safeguarding migrant workers and ensuring their ac-cess to essential services and legal protection.
The UN Resident Coordinator briefed the High Commissioner on current UN activities in the Maldives, priority sectors, and efforts to improve the utilization of resources in a manner that supports migrant workers’ welfare and rights as a key UN priority.
High Commissioner Nazmul Islam thanked the UNRC for its supportive role in promoting the rights, healthcare and basic needs of expatriate Bangladeshi workers.
He noted that Bangladeshi migrants adapt quickly to Maldivian culture and language and have made sig-nificant contributions to the island nation’s economy and development.
He highlighted opportunities for Maldivian medical graduates to undertake internships in Bangladesh and reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to working with Maldivian authorities in strengthening public health, labor rights and human resource development.
The High Commissioner also proposed organizing joint seminars and programs on labor rights, public health and other key issues in partnership with the UN, the Maldivian government and the Bangladesh High Commission.
The UNRC welcomed the proposal and said the IOM would be encouraged to prepare an enhanced framework for protecting migrant workers’ rights in the Maldives.
Both sides also acknowledged the possibility of deeper cooperation between IOM Bangladesh and IOM Maldives to improve safe migration and monitoring mechanisms, further reinforcing the tripartite struc-ture.
They expressed confidence that joint initiatives of the UN, Bangladesh and the Maldives would advance peace, human protection, migrant welfare and sustainable development in the region.
