World must have a agreement to address migration comprehensively: HPM Sheikh Hasina

"Migrants' rights have to be secured, in all situations, irrespective of their status, and for harmony across our diverse societies, protection and promotion of the rights of migrants and refugees are equally essential," she said.

The prime minister was addressing the High-level Meeting of the Plenary of the General Assembly on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants at the UN headquarters.

The premier said mutual trust and respect, shared responsibility and inclusiveness are critical to address migration comprehensively. "We must have a general agreement on these universal principles," she said.

She commended UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for convening the first-ever Summit on Refugees and Migrants.

"We must seize this historic opportunity and deliberate on a robust, ambitious and action-oriented blueprint to deal with population movements ... this needs to be done within a broader development context.

Sheikh Hasina said migration is a public good and it must be appreciated as a reality and freedom enhancer.

"In a connected world, goods, services and all factors of production need to move unhindered ... spread and speed of knowledge and technology make it even more compelling across economies and societies," she said.

She underlined a few aspects of migration governance.

First, mutual trust and respect, shared responsibility and inclusiveness are critical to address migration comprehensively. We must have a general agreement on these universal principles.

Second, we pledged to "leave no one behind". Migrants' rights have to be secured, in all situations, "irrespective of their status". For harmony across our diverse societies, protection and promotion of the rights of migrants and refugees are equally essential.

Third, migration and mobility need to be placed in a new, positive narrative. Bangladesh has, therefore, proposed a Global Compact on Migration addressing some of the long-standing gaps in migration governance.

She said the compact must build on the 2030 Agenda, and capture elements and modalities that are ambitious and enforceable, yet balanced and flexible.

Fourth, promotion of tolerance and understanding is crucial for accommodating migrants and refugees. We must all rise above a solely identity-based discourse.

Fifth, climate change and resultant displacement of millions of people is a reality ... the compact will have to take into account the protection need of millions of climate-displaced people.

She said the World Humanitarian Summit adopted the Partnership for Protection and Development. The global Compact should build on such innovative initiatives.

The premier said promoting safe, orderly, regular and responsible movement of people is about securing individuals' dignity and well-being.

"Bangladesh, as the current Chair of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), will be happy to contribute to the development of the Compact," she said.

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina held a meeting with State Counsellor and Foreign Minister of Myanmar Aung Saan Suu Kyi, while Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Janet Scotland called on her at the UN headquarters.