On 6th March 2023, a National Seminar on “Internal and International Migration: Policies & Practices for the Women Workers” was held at North South University (NSU). It was organized by the Center for Migration Studies (CMS) of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG), North South University. The Chief Guest of the seminar was Ms. Aroma Dutta, Honourable Member of Parliament of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and the Guest of Honor was Ms. Tapati Saha, Programme Manager, Women’s Economic Empowerment and Migration in Bangladesh, UN Women.
The Keynote Speakers were Dr. Ishrat Zakia Sultana, Assistant Professor, Dept. of PSS & Member, CMS, SIPG, NSU, and Ms. Tata Zafar, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of PSS, & Member, CMS, SIPG, NSU. The discussant was Ms. Sunzida Sultana, Director Programme, Karmojibi Nari. The Session Chair was Professor Atiqul Islam, Vice-Chancellor, of North South University.
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Although highlighting the progress the current administration has made in assisting female migrant workers, Ms. Aroma Dutta, Hon. MP, also underlined that there is still an immense amount of work to be done. To that purpose, she spoke to the group of young students there and urged them to participate and contribute fresh, original ideas to assist in this field.
Ms. Tapati Saha, Programme Manager, UN Women stressed the need of creativity and technology
in tackling issues facing female migrant workers in general and their unique problems in particular.
In support of this, she outlined some recent government measures, such as the Return and
Reintegration program, which aims to assist returning workers in finding new homes in the
country.
Dr. Ishrat Zakia Sultana spoke on “The RMG Sector Goes Ahead Leaving the Workers Behind”.
She emphasized a number of difficulties encountered by female migrant workers in the workplace,
including being viewed as outsiders, receiving inadequate leave, dealing with precarious
employment, and having insufficient education and negotiating abilities. She came to the
conclusion that these problems were caused by the improper application of labor laws nationwide.
Ms. Tata Zafar spoke on “Gender Dynamics of Experiences, Challenges and Empowerment
Factors of International Female Migrant Workers”. She made the argument that the socio-cultural
circumstances, situations, and status as women of female international migrant workers were
directly related to their exploitation in a culture that was predominantly patriarchal.
Ms. Sunzida Sultana stated that in her experience working with migrant workers, she has
discovered that these individuals display a regrettable ignorance of their rights and the labor laws
that are meant to protect them. She also noted how the creation of labor legislation did not take
gender into account, which is why women confront particular difficulties at work both
domestically and abroad.
Professor Atiqul Islam, Vice Chancellor, NSU appreciated the keynote speakers, panelists, and
students in particular for their thoughtful questions. He anticipated that NSU's research on these
subjects would assist in the formulation of national policy.
The event concluded with an awards ceremony at which participants in the "Winter School on
Migration Studies" program, which took place between January 23 and January 27, 2023, received
certificates. The Center for Migration and Mobility Studies (CMMS), OP Jindal Global University,
India, and the Center for Migration Studies (CMS), SIPG, North South University, collaboratively
organized this certificate program.
The seminar began with a welcome message from Prof. Sk. Tawfique M. Haque, Ph.D., Director,
SIPG & CMS, & Chair, Dept. of PSS, NSU. The ceremony was closed by a speech from Professor
Abdur Rahim Rob Khan, the Dean of North South University's School of Humanities and Social
Sciences and a member of CMS, who also expressed his gratitude to the Center for hosting the
event. The seminar was moderated by Dr. Mohammad Jalal Uddin Sikder, Coordinator, CMS &
Assistant Professor, Department of PSS, NSU. Academics, researchers, diplomats, journalists,
members of civil society organizations, women's campaigners, and students all attended the
seminar.
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