The European Union (EU) has offered cooperation to Bangladesh in designing a special programme for the reintegration of returnees as Bangladesh wants a ‘return and reintegration package’ for its ‘irregular’ migrants living in European countries, reports UNB.
The package might include training, skill development and small business for the returnees with the help of the EU so that the returnees can smoothly reintegrate into societies and carry forward their lives in a ‘dignified’ manner.
The EU also offered cooperation in the field of information campaign and awareness-raising on the danger of irregular migration after both sides discussed the matter relating to Bangladeshis in irregular situation in the European countries.
The offer came at the first-ever Bangladesh-EU Dialogue on Migration Management amid its call to Bangladesh for brining back some 80,000 irregular nationals living in various European countries. Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque led the Bangladesh delegation while the 10-member EU delegation was led by Deputy Secretary General for Global and Economic Issues, European External Action Service Christian Leffler.
The Bangladesh side highlighted the government’s policy of bringing all the people in irregular situation back as well as the need for widening the scope of safe, orderly and regular migration. Bangladesh felt that it is State’s responsibility to bring back the irregular migrants who are suffering abroad, even if the number is two.
After the dialogue, held at the state guesthouse Meghna, both sides, however, did not want to mention the figure, earlier disclosed by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, saying the number is not important rather the issue of its handling is important.
“This is completely an evolving situation. We cannot the give the number. The important issue is to work together and agree between us - Bangladesh and the European Union authorities - on an effective, transparent and fair process to move these issues forward,” Leffler told reporters.
He made it sure that the media did not pick up the figure - 80,000 - from him and said there are Bangladeshis in ‘irregular situation’ in the Europe like other foreign nationals.