Md. Akhtar Hossain, senior secretary of the public security department of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said that the government has formulated a national action plan to prevent and suppress human trafficking. So that all kinds of anti-trafficking activities are being worked on. "Although there are several limitations due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the implementation of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012 and the National Action Plan 2018-2022, the position of Bangladesh in the World Report on Human Trafficking of the United States is now at the second level. Bangladesh has secured this position in the World Report on Human Trafficking three times in a row including this year. To achieve this success, the Ministry of Home Affairs is leading from the front by coordinating all the activities of the government to prevent and suppress human trafficking.
This was said in the speech of the chief guest at the Chittagong divisional workshop titled "Implementation and updating of national action plan on prevention and suppression of human trafficking" organized by the public security department of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Chittagong divisional commissioner's office in Cox's Bazar with the support from USAID’s Fight Slavery and Trafficking-In-Persons (FSTIP) Activity, implemented by Winrock International.
He also said that in addition to the implementation of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012, effective programs are also needed to address the fact that people are becoming easy targets for traffickers due to social and economic problems. Based on this consideration, the Government of Bangladesh formulated the National Action Plan 2012-2022 for Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking. It is a document that outlines all types of anti-trafficking activities.
Additional Secretary of Public Security Department AKM Mukhleshur Rahman, Additional Secretary Jahangir Alam, were present as special guests in the workshop held on Sunday morning in a conference room of Cox's Bazar under the chairmanship of Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Ashraf Uddin.
Mr. AKM Mukhleshur Rahman, Additional Secretary (Political and ICT Division) of the Ministry of Home Affairs gave a welcome speech at the workshop. In her welcome address, Liesbeth Zonneveld, Miss Lisbeth Jonaveld, Chief of Party of Winrock International's Fight Slavery and Trafficking-in-Persons (FSTIP) Activity, presented the background of the national action plan.
Objectives and Working Papers of the Workshop: National Action Plan 2018-2022 on Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking An analytical presentation on the Cox's Bazar situation was given by AKM Masood Ali, Executive Director of Incidence Bangladesh.
Chief guest Md. Akhtar Hossain also said that it is very important to fulfill various targets to achieve SDG targets. In addition, it is important to prevent human trafficking if Bangladesh is to improve in various international standards. He termed human trafficking as modern slavery and organized crime and urged district, upazila and union anti-trafficking committees to be active at the local level as well as to work together with various government departments, non-governmental organizations and private institutions. At the same time, he advised to follow the guidelines of National Action Plan 2018-2022.
In the President's speech, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Md Ashraf Uddin said, Cox's Bazar, Khagrachhari, Chittagong and Bandarban districts are bordering, so they go to work in India and Myanmar. They go there voluntarily so no one complains. But when they go to India and Myanmar they are in danger and sue. We will only know if there is a case. He suggested various awareness programs including the inclusion of a chapter on the subject in the school curriculum to prevent human trafficking.
Cox's Bazar District Commissioner and District Magistrate Md. Mamunur Rashid, Bandarban District Commissioner and District Magistrate Yachmin Parveen Tibriji, Khagrachari District Commissioner and District Magistrate Pratap Chandra Bishas and others spoke as special guests.
AKM Masud Ali, Executive Director, Incidin Bangladesh participated in a working session on the implementation and future plans of National Action Plan 2018 - 2022 on Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking, Deputy Commissioners and District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, Upazila Executive Officers of Chittagong Division. , elected public representatives and members of the Human Trafficking Prevention Committee.
In addition, upazila executive officers, UN representatives, international and national level NGO representatives, local journalists and government officials were present in the workshop.