The government should take the responsibility of returnee female migrant workers' children born out of sexual abuse in job-destination countries.
Migrant rights activists on Tuesday made the demand at a programme in the city.
They suggested that the Wage Earners' Welfare Board, which maintains workers' welfare funds, should take the responsibility of these children.
They were speaking at a media advocacy on 'Rights of Returnee Women Migrants: Experiences from Grassroots Level', organised by the Centre for Women and Children Studies (CWCS) at the National Press Club.
Women migrants are contributing to the country's economy, but they are subjected to different forms of maltreatment while working abroad.
Favourable working environment should be ensured for them - reintegration support is also crucial when they return home, said the speakers, adding that the government should take proper policy to utilise the benefits from women's migration.
Although the female migrants send the lion's share of their income home, they find themselves empty-handed at the end of the day, the speakers observed.
The rights activists also said about 1.1 million women workers have gone abroad since 1991, but there is no returnee data.
It is also important to have a breakdown of remittances, sent by men and women, they underscored.
CWCS president Prof Ishrat Shamim, who delivered the welcome address, said women migrant workers need psycho-social assistance upon their return.
She also emphasised increasing skilled women's migration gradually, instead of sending domestic workers.
Media should focus on balanced coverage of stories on women's migration such as successful women migrants, remittances and their contributions in the development of both sending and receiving countries, she added.
Advocate Farida Yeasmin presented a keynote paper on Media Advocacy for the Rights of Returnee Women, while Mohuya Leya Falia, senior coordinator- programme of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), attended the event as a special guest.
Mohammad Ikram Hossain, country coordinator - Bangladesh, ICMPD; Sumaiya Islam, executive director, BNSK; Jasiya Khatoon, director, WARBE Development Foundation; and Arafat Ara, a journalist of The Financial Express, were present as guest speakers.
