EU and Commonwealth delegations meet with Bangladesh government to discuss migration and education reforms
High-level delegations from the European Union and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) met with Mahdi Amin, advisor to the Prime Minister and spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, in Dhaka on Wednesday to discuss strategic partnerships in migration, human capital development, and international education.
During the session with the European Union delegation, discussions centered on bilateral interests, with a primary focus on safe migration, workforce upskilling, and the expansion of employment opportunities within European labor markets. The EU representatives expressed a clear interest in sourcing skilled labor from Bangladesh to meet growing demand in Europe, while emphasizing the importance of fostering legal migration pathways and strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Amin outlined the government’s comprehensive initiatives to align Bangladesh’s human resources with the evolving requirements of the global labor market. He highlighted plans to expand vocational and technical training programs and noted the government's commitment to ensuring safe, orderly, and regular migration. To enhance the welfare of the migrant workforce, Amin announced that the government intends to introduce an "Expatriate Card" designed to improve service delivery and ensure the protection of workers' rights, while simultaneously working to reduce overall migration costs. The EU delegation included Henrik Nielsen, Aleksandra Domanska, Baiba Zarina, and Jurate Smalskyte Mervil.
In a separate meeting, an ACU delegation led by Secretary General Professor Colin Riordan explored opportunities to bolster academic collaboration, research expansion, and technology-driven education. The delegation, which also included BRAC University Vice-Chancellor Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar, engaged in discussions regarding the modernization of higher education in Bangladesh.
Amin articulated the administration's vision for a transformative, technology-integrated educational framework aimed at preparing students for global competition and fostering a knowledge-based economy. Responding to the government's policy goals, the ACU representatives signaled their intent to support the enhancement of research-oriented education in Bangladesh and expressed optimism regarding future partnerships that would connect local institutions with Commonwealth universities worldwide.
