General Information- Issue 4 NHRC is pleased to note that the MoEWOE maintains a well updated website18, inter alia, number of migrant workers and remittance by migrant workers. The Commission while commending such best practices, would take this opportunity to point out possible improvements to enhance accountability. An important information perhaps lacking is the funds collected from migrants under the Wage Earners' Welfare Fund and how these funds have been disbursed in a manner beneficial to the migrant workers. Media in Bangladesh has in several instances reported that, despite the considerable amount of funds collected from the migrants by MoEWOE, it spends very little on them.19 Thus the Commission would urge MoEWOE and relevant authorities to scale up their budget allocations spent on migrants and their family members and carry detailed data (i.e. disaggregated by sex , demographics , type of accidents /deaths etc. ) in their public domains allowing better accountability and in line with the provisions of the law on Right to Information20. Further, the Commission would like to suggest that the present ex- gratia payment made to victimized migrant workers or to the family members of the deceased migrant workers be replaced by a compensation scheme to be administered in accordance with the principles of fairness and nondiscrimination. As per the National Human Rights Commission Act 2009, key functions of the Commission include, raising awareness, provide human rights education and training, research, policy advocacy, monitoring and investigation of human rights violations. NHRCB has a dedicated Thematic Committee on migrant workers and has been functioning as an effective bridge between the State and CSOs, frequently implementing joint programs through this platform.21 NHRC conducted a research titled, Protecting Migrant Workers from Bangladesh: A Study of Legal Compliance with Migrant Workers Rights (2012) with a view to assess the compliance level in terms of laws, policies and practices with CMW. The study recommended concrete ways and means to more effectively achieve the standards of the Convention. NHRCB has conducted many awareness sessions on human rights including on the protection and rights of the migrant workers to various groups including public, students, law enforcement agencies, human rights defenders, government officials, CSOs and journalists22. As per its mandate the Commission, under section 12 (l) can inquire into complaints related to the violation or imminent / probable violation of human rights and resolve concerned issues through mediation and conciliation. Further section 12(r) mandates the Commission to provide legal assistance to the aggrieved person or any other person on behalf of the aggrieved person to lodge a complaint before the Commission. NHRCB to ensure better outreach of its services, will establish six more regional offices (one per division) in addition to the two regional offices currently functioning in Rangamati and Khulna23 and will be introducing legal aid services to victims of human rights in all these regional offices. Further, NHRCB has identified human trafficking, safe migration, discrimination and abuse of migrant workers as pressing 18 (http://probashi.portal.gov.bd/) http://www.thedailystar.net:8080/city/little-spent-migrants-1370935 20 The Right to Information Act was enacted in 2009. 21 NHRCB thematic committees were created to provide a platform form for multiple stake holders including CSOs to engage in the human rights sector. 22 Please refer page 7 23 Rangamati is a district in south-eastern Bangladesh and part of the Chittagong division. The total population is 5,08,182 per 2001 census of which tribal 52% and non-tribal 48%. And Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh, located in south-western Bangladesh. As of the 2011 census, the population of the district was 2,318,527. 19 5