Habiganj, October 29: “Despite several limitations in the implementation of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012 and the National Action Plan 2018-2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh is now at the second level in the United States World Report on Human Trafficking. 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.
Mr. Md Akhtar Hossain, Senior Secretary of Public Security Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said this in the speech of the chief guest at the departmental workshop on the implementation and updating of the National Action Plan 2018-2022 for the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking.
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.
On October 29, 2022, at The Palace Resort, Habiganj, on Saturday, the workshop was held under the overall supervision of the Public Security Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner, with the technical support of the 'Fight Slavery and Trafficking-in-Persons (FSTIP) Activity' implemented by Winrock International and funded by USAID. Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Mosharraf Hossain (Additional Secretary). Md. Jahangir Alam, Additional Secretary (Police and NTMC) of Ministry of Home Affairs, Public Security, was present as a special guest.
Mr. AKM Mukhleshur Rahman, Additional Secretary (Political and ICT Division) of Ministry of Home Affairs gave a welcome speech at the workshop. In her welcome address, 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, Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Mosharraf Hossain (Additional Secretary) said, 19 of the 41 upazilas of Sylhet division are bordering upazilas. As a result, women are easily trafficked to neighboring countries. But no one complains in the beginning. When they are in danger by going to India or other countries, they file a case. We will only know if there is a case. As a result, it is not possible to take timely action against human traffickers. He highlighted the need to include a chapter on the subject in the school/college/university curriculum along with increasing the number of tribunals to combat human trafficking.
Sylhet District Commissioner and District Magistrate Md. Mojibur Rahman, Moulvibazar District Commissioner and District Magistrate Mir Nahid Ahsan, Habiganj District Commissioner Ishrat Jahan, Bangladesh Police Sylhet Range DIG Mofiz Uddin Ahmed, PPM 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.
Besides, upazila executive officers, international and national level NGO representatives, local journalists and government officials were present in the workshop.
