The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) is the first inter-governmentally adopted framework prepared under the auspices of the United Nations to cover all dimensions of international migration in a comprehensive manner. It is anchored in the core purposes and principles of the United Nations, as covered by its Charter, international human rights law, international labour law and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The United Nations system is committed to supporting the implementation, follow-up and review of GCM. Therefore, the United Nations has established a Network on Migration (Network) to ensure effective, timely and coordinated system-wide support to the Member States. In Bangladesh, the UN country team established the first national Network on Migration in July 2019, to ensure coordinated UN Country Team-wide support to the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) on migration related interventions contributing to the implementation, follow up and review of the GCM. To support the objectives of the Bangladesh UN Network on Migration (BDUNNM), three Technical Working Groups (TWGs) on Labour Migration (LM), Counter-Tracking in Persons (CTiP) and Climate Change and Human Mobility have been established which includes UN agencies, NGO/CSOs, private sector and others as members. The BDUNNM has been actively supporting the GoB as a GCM Champion country through “whole of society” and “whole of government” approach for GCM implementation and review.
“My Great Story’ encapsulates the essence of International Migrants Day by illuminating the profound hope, resilience, and innovation inherent in the journey of every Bangladeshi migrant. These individuals are crucial agents of progress, whose contributions significantly enrich our culture and fuel national development. Recognizing the human narrative behind every statistic, WARBE Development Foundation along with the Bangladesh UN Network on Migration collaborates with all partners to champion safe, inclusive, and well-governed migration systems. We are committed to ensuring that every migrant’s great story culminates in a future defined by dignity and shared prosperity for all.”
“People move to other countries for different reasons. Some migrate for work and to seek a better life, others are forced to flee their homeland due to conflict or persecution. All have hopes for the future and want to live in safety and dignity. All share the ability to contribute to the communities hosting them. UNHCR supports States and works with all stakeholders to help them effectively manage cross-border movements, consistent with international protection principles. This is a key foundation to allow all people on the move to realise their potential.”
“The story of every returnee migrant woman is one of resilience and courage. Instead of celebrating their contribution to Bangladesh’ development, too often returnee migrant women are stigmatized. In honoring these stories, we ensure that reintegration is gender-responsive and rights-based. UN Women stands ready to support the Government in strengthening access to social protection, psychosocial support, financial services, and decent work. Together, we can make return and reintegration a catalyst for advancing gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and sustainable development”.
The endeavors and sacrifices of Bangladesh’s migrant workers to fulfil their aspirations and lift up their families and communities deserve our respect and support. International Migrants Day is an opportunity to reflect on what more can be done to ensure they can access decent work with social protection. The ILO, together with the government and social partners, are tackling high recruitment fees, building pathways to skilled jobs, enhancing access to social protection and facilitating smooth reintegration back home. Every migrant worker’s journey must be one of dignity – every step of the way.
“The women of Bangladesh are at the heart of the country’s migration story. Wherever they go, they carry with them a rich cultural heritage — values, language, cuisine — and rebuild communities with strength and grace. As caregivers, entrepreneurs, culture-bearers and protectors of their families’ wellbeing, migrant women drive economic progress and social cohesion, even as many face exploitation, unsafe work conditions, and separation from their families. Having migrated several times myself, I have embraced each new culture with gratitude and remain inspired by the resilience and dignity of women and girls on the move. Their stories show that culture and development thrive only when migration is safe and dignified.”
“Bangladesh’s migrants carry with them not only skills and dreams, but the rich stories that shape families, communities, and a shared development. UNICEF stands with migrant children and families to ensure their journeys are safe, dignified, and full of opportunity. As we mark International Migrants Day 2025, we celebrate their resilience and the cultural richness they bring to Bangladesh and the world. Their stories remind us that when migration is well-governed and inclusive, it becomes a powerful driver of progress for everyone.”
“UNODC welcomes the Government of Bangladesh’s landmark decision to criminalize the smuggling of migrants, demonstrating clear commitment to address organized crime while strengthening protection of vulnerable migrants. On International Migrants Day, UNODC reaffirms its mandate-driven support to Bangladesh to operationalize these reforms through effective, rights-based criminal justice responses targeting criminal networks.”
Since the mid-1990s, Bangladesh has made steady progress in HIV prevention, keeping prevalence low. Migrants remain particularly vulnerable due to isolation abroad and exposure to unsafe practices. Yet over the past three decades, the migrant community has played a quiet but important role in prevention efforts. Returnee migrants have supported the National AIDS Programme by helping identify cases, encouraging treatment adherence, and counseling newly diagnosed patients. Through peer support and shared experience, they have fostered empathy and collective care. The migrant community deserves recognition as a trusted ally and the right to live in safety and dignity.
“More than 11 million people from Bangladesh work as migrant workers across the world. They are the powerhouse of Bangladesh’s economy. Together, they sent more than USD 30 billion back to Bangladesh in the previous financial year — the highest in our nation’s history. Yet they continue to face systemic exploitation, discrimination, and a lack of security both at home and abroad.
BRAC, along with its partners, will continue to build pathways to mobility for the skilled migrants, and safeguard their rights at every stage of the migration journey. On this International Migrants Day, let us reaffirm our collective responsibility to create a world where migration is a choice, not a necessity — and where migrants’ rights and aspirations are fully upheld.”
“The contribution of migrant workers to Bangladesh’s economic development cannot be overstated. In the financial year 2024–25, Bangladeshis working abroad sent home over USD 30 billion—equivalent to 6.5% of GDP and more than three times the combined total of official development assistance and foreign direct investment. These remittances build foreign reserves, sustain households, and reflect the immense dedication and sacrifice of migrants, whose rights must be safeguarded. For the first time, the Bangladesh Election Commission has opened registration for out-of-country voting, recognising the importance of enabling migrants to engage in the democratic process. UNDP supports national efforts that broaden inclusion and remains committed to helping strengthen systems that uphold participation, rights and equitable development for all.”
“On International Migrants Day 2025, IOM celebrates the resilience and contributions of migrants worldwide. Migration, guided by the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), powers economies, enriches cultures, and strengthens societies. This year’s theme, ‘My Great Story: Cultures and Development,’ highlights every migrant’s journey as a testament to innovation and shared progress. IOM remains committed to safe, orderly, and dignified migration. Let’s unite—governments, communities, and partners—to build systems that empower migrants, support inclusion, and help shape a future where every migrant’s potential is recognized and celebrated.”
