Dhaka seeks sustainable approach, collaboration to prevent human trafficking

Foreign Secretary Ambassador Masud Bin Momen has stressed the need to adopt a sustainable approach and collaboration in preventing human trafficking.

He made the comment when a delegation from Bali Process, led by its co-chairs Ambassador Lynn Bell (Australia) and Ambassador Tri Tharyat (Indonesia), met him and Secretary for Expatriate Welfare Md Ruhul Amin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday with senior officials on both sides in attendance.

The foreign secretary highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s firm commitment and “zero tolerance” policy against human trafficking, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

He underlined the complex and multiple drivers of human trafficking and the challenges to address them.

He also stressed the need to adopt a sustainable approach and collaboration in this regard.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment secretary briefed the delegation on the programs and activities of the government of Bangladesh, including those funded by the development partners, for re-integration of the victims of the trafficking.

The Bali Process co-chairs underscored that addressing human trafficking is a complex and challenging task requiring strong collaboration.

They expressed concerns that vulnerability and desperation among the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals resulted in an increase in their irregular movements in recent years.

The foreign secretary called on the Bali Process members to actively work towards a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis.

He added that the protracted crisis is creating a potential economic, societal, environmental and security threat to Bangladesh and consequently a threat to regional security, as a whole.

Among other topics, skill development and capacity-building of the law enforcement agencies and enhancing social awareness programmes through further collaboration between and among the Bali Process Member States were discussed in the meeting.

The Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime is a regional forum that supports collaboration, dialogue and policy development relating to irregular migration in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

The Bali Process was established in 2002 as a non-binding, international, multilateral forum to facilitate cooperation and collaboration, information-sharing and policy development on irregular migration in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.