Returning migrant worker Abdul Mannan started a new life in Bangladesh

ILO’s EU funded Skills 21 project, supports partner TVET institutes in delivering job-focused skills training through a modernized TVET system. Through this initiative, around 3,000 returning migrant workers - like Abdul Mannan - have been successfully reintegrated into Bangladesh with skills development and entrepreneurial support.
 

As I sit here reflecting on my journey, I can't help but admire at the twists and turns life has thrown my way. My name is Md. Abdul Mannan, and at 50 years old, I've seen more than my fair share of challenges and opportunities.

Living in Bamondanga, Sundarganj, in the Gaibandha District of Bangladesh, I spent the majority of my life tending to the land as a farmer, providing for my family of two children. However, fate had other plans in store for me.

In 2015, an unexpected opportunity arose that would alter the course of my life. I was offered a job as a driver for the city corporation's garbage collection vehicle in Basra city, Iraq. Eager to explore new horizons and provide better for my family, I seized the chance and embarked on a journey far from home.

Little did I know, this decision would lead me down a path filled with both hardships and lessons. Tempted by promises of better prospects, I found myself crossing borders into Greece in 2016, guided by doubtful brokers through Syria and Türkiye. In Greece, I struggled to find stable employment, resorting to various part-time jobs just to make ends meet.

After enduring 14 months of uncertainty and illness, I reached a turning point. My health deteriorated, and my spirit shaken. I realized that Greece was not where I belonged. With a newfound clarity of mind, I made the decision to return home voluntarily in 2017, with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Grateful for the support provided by IOM, I received a cash grant of 1,45,000 taka  upon my return. Determined to rebuild my life, I invested the money wisely, purchasing three cows and establishing a fattening farm. As I tended to my newfound livelihood, I think about my next steps.

It was then that I received a call from the IOM Dhaka office, offering me a chance to further my skills through technical education. Eager to embrace this opportunity, I enrolled in a four-month car driving course at the Gaibandha Technical Training Center under the ILO’s European Union funded Skills 21 project.

Upon completing the course, I found myself equipped with new skills and renewed confidence. I joined the driving profession once again, this time as an internal trainer. With over two decades of driving experience under my belt, I am ready to embrace any new challenges or opportunities that come my way.

My journey has been one of resilience, adaptation, and growth. And as I look ahead to the future, I am filled with optimism, knowing that with determination and hard work, I can overcome any obstacle that stands in my path.