The Backbone of Bangladesh’s Development

This op-ed, written by the Bangladesh United Nations Network on Migration, reflects on the continuing benefits of migrants and migration in these uncertain times.

With the Covid-19 pandemic and associated forced immobility dominating the global agenda over the last year and a half, it is easy to forget the vital role Bangladeshi migrants still play in defining the country's development trajectory. These facts are captured in this year's World Migration Report, where it is noted that Bangladeshis represent the sixth highest number of migrants in the world, and the country received the eighth highest amount of remittance in the world. While Covid-19 has impacted global supply chains and migration corridors to some extent, the development impact of Bangladeshis overseas remains remarkably constant.

This article has been written by the Bangladesh United Nations Network on Migration: Fathima Nusrath Ghazzali, coordinator a.i. of Bangladesh United Nations Network on Migration, and acting chief of mission, IOM Bangladesh; Tuomo Poutiainen, UN resident coordinator a.i. in Bangladesh, and country director, ILO; Eiko Narita, representative a.i. of UNFPA Bangladesh; Asa Torkelsson, representative of the UNFPA; Johannes van der Klaauw, representative of the UNHCR; Sheldon Yett, representative of Unicef; Tomoo Hozumi, representative of Unicef; Sudipto Mukerjee, resident representative of the UNDP; Tullio Santini, regional representative a.i. of UNODC Regional Office for South Asia; and Gitanjali Singh, head of office a.i. of UN Women.