10 December 2018, Marrakesh, Morocco

A Bangladesh delegation led by the Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md. Shahidul Haque is attending the UN Summit for adoption of the Global Compact for Migration in Marrakesh. The delegation also includes Ambassador M. Shameem Ahsan, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN offices in Geneva, Ambassador Masud Bin Momen, Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN, Mrs. Rownaq Jahan, Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Mr. Munirus Salehin, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and H.E. Sultana Laila Hossain, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Morocco. In Marrakesh, the delegation attended the 11^th Global Forum on Migration and Development hosted by Morocco, an event organized by Platform for Disaster Displacement (PDD) and a multi-stakeholder breakfast meeting organized by Bangladesh Mission in Morocco.  

Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque delivered the national statement at the Plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference of UN to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. In the statement, he recalled the proposal for the Global Compact for migration made by Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her address at the UNGA in 2016. The Compact was adopted at Marrakech to which Bangladesh affirmed full support and to its implementation.

The Bangladesh delegation spent busy days in Marrakech. Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md. Shahidul Haque participated in a panel on climate change and mobility organized by UNEP and an event on PDD hosted by France. He also chaired Dialogue 2 Session on ‘Partnership and innovative initiatives for the way forward’ of the Intergovernmental Conference of UN to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Bangladesh Permanent Representative M. Shameem Ahsan chaired an event on ‘People on the move in the context of Disaster and climate change: addressing their assistance and protection needs in the Global Compact for migration’, organized by Bangladesh, IOM, UNHCR and PDD. He also chaired GFMD’s Roundtable 3.1 on ‘Aligning governance with contemporary drivers of migration’.

Bangladesh Embassy in Morocco arranged a multi-stakeholder breakfast meeting on 9^th December 2018 attended by international migration experts, representatives from the UN Member states including EU, UN agencies, Civil Society and think tanks to exchange views on the implementation aspect of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Foreign Secretary briefed the audience on how Bangladesh looks at the newly adopted Global Compact and challenges of implementation. He also mentioned about Bangladesh’s initiative in framing a draft national strategy on migration governance to address migration in all its forms and manifestations. Foreign Secretary described this as a reflection of Bangladesh’s strong political willingness for implementing the actionable commitments of the Global Compact.

At the invitation of UNEP, Foreign Secretary participated as a panelist in an event on “Addressing natural disasters, adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation – solution for human mobility and human security”. He eloquently presented the multifaceted challenges of climate change and environmental degradation faced in recent time by Bangladesh and other climate vulnerable countries. He highlighted some innovative adaptation processes developed by the local inhabitants as a manifestation of their social resilience. Director General of IOM Antonio Vittorini, UN High-Commissioner for Refugees Philippo Grandi, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachellet, Minister of Tuvalu, Director of UNEP also attended the event as panelists.

On the margin of the high-level intergovernmental conference to adopt the Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the President of the UN General Assembly H.E. Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces met with the Foreign Secretary. The President of the General Assembly applauded the pioneering role of Bangladesh for mooting the idea of a Global Compact for Migration and championing in women empowerment. She further praised the visionary leadership and commitment of the Foreign Secretary to work for the collective good.

Foreign Secretary Haque also held a meeting with Director General of IOM Mr. Antonio Vittorino to discuss on the future implementation mechanism of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. EU delegation led by Deputy Secretary General Mr. Christian Leffler also met with the Foreign Secretary and discussed various issues of mutual interest.