Most migrant worker issues begin at home: Foreign Adviser

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said that 80 percent of the problems faced by Bangladeshi expatriate workers originate within the country, even before they migrate abroad.

The remaining 20 percent arise in destination countries, yet the responsibility of resolving the full extent of these issues often falls solely on Bangladesh missions overseas, he observed.

Speaking at an event marking Foreign Service Day 2025 at the Foreign Service Academy on Thursday, the adviser stressed the need to tackle migrant worker problems from the source — in Dhaka — to ease the burden on missions abroad. The event was streamed live on the foreign ministry’s official Facebook page.

Highlighting the scale of the challenge, he noted that Bangladesh’s missions, despite limited resources and staff, provide services to around one crore expatriates globally. In Saudi Arabia alone, nearly 3.2 million Bangladeshi migrants live and work.

"Even if they all follow the rules of the host country, many still face various issues. With just 50 mission officials in such places, it's not realistic to expect them to handle problems faced by 10 lakh people," he said.

He emphasised that the root of many issues lies in Bangladesh itself and must be addressed through stronger pre-departure systems, improved coordination, and better support mechanisms.

Touhid Hossain urged colleagues to show empathy toward expatriates who approach missions under difficult circumstances. “They don’t come to missions out of choice; most of them come when they're in serious trouble,” he said, calling on staff to serve them with sincerity.

He also shared that the government is actively working to expand manpower in key missions, particularly consulates, to better respond to the growing needs of the migrant community.

While acknowledging that mission staff also face challenges, the adviser reminded all that expatriates often endure far greater hardships and deserve timely assistance.