Bangladesh among top 5 sources of UK asylum claims, but few approved: High commissioner

Bangladesh is among the top five countries of origin for asylum applicants in the UK, but only a small number of recent applications from Bangladesh have been approved, British High Commissioner Sarah Cook said today.

Rejected applicants are being deported to Bangladesh, Cook said during a courtesy meeting with Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury at his office in Dhaka.

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She said the UK government has taken a tough position on asylum seekers. Those whose applications are rejected and who return voluntarily are offered 3,000 British pounds in financial assistance for rehabilitation, while the support is not available to those deported through the legal process.

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The meeting focused on preventing exploitation, irregular migration and human trafficking and developing skilled workers.

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Sarah Cook had a courtesy meeting with Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury at his office in Dhaka. Photo: Collected

Ariful stressed the need for joint efforts to prevent irregular migration and trafficking and sought UK support for English-language, technical and vocational training aligned with international labour market needs. He also called for cooperation to strengthen technical training centres and marine technology institutes and expand “green skill” and “digital skill” training. The minister proposed forming a joint working group to implement bilateral migration and skills-development initiatives.

State Minister Md Nurul Haque suggested linking Bangladeshi training centres with UK institutions to develop workers certified to international standards and promote legal migration pathways.

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Cook expressed interest in jointly developing skilled workers and raised concerns over ensuring safe, regular and affordable labour migration from Bangladesh to wider overseas market. She also discussed cooperation on implementing the Global Compact for Migration.

Ministry Secretary Md Mokhtar Ahmed, British High Commission counsellor Ryan Duncanson and senior ministry officials attended the meeting.