Bureau Office, Khulna:

Experts in a programme on Wednesday (June 25) stressed the need for implementing laws and forming committee in comprising representative of the government and non-government officials to curb the human trafficking.

They came up with the advices for an orientation programme aiming to build a framework of Bangladesh referral mechanism to protect and assist victims of human trafficking at the conference room of CSS Ava Center under Sadar thana in Khulna city.

The programme was organized by Ashash Project, which is being implemented by Karitas and Rupantar in cooperation with the WINROCK International associated by Switzerland Government.

Bitan Kumar Mondal, Additional District Commissioner (general) and also Deputy Director of the Local Government and Rural Development in Khulna addressed the programme as chief guest.

Executive Director of Rupantar Swapon Kumar Guho presided over the programme. Country Representative, Bangladesh and Project Director of Ashash Project WINROCK International Deepta Raxit was present as special guest. Programme Officer of Ashash communication and airness WINROCK International Masnun Haque, Regional coordinator of Ashash WINROCK International Sheikh Masudul Hasan, Project Manager of Ashash, Karitas Sangostha Provas Chandra Biswas, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Co-coordinator for Ashash Project of Rupantar Subol Kumar Ghosh narrated the objects and prospects of the project and how to protect human trafficking.

Speakers said, highly risk of women and children trafficking poses at the natural disasters prone south-western zone of the country. The activities of human traffickers’ syndicates have been increased more than before as the women are being victimized and forced to lead a sub-human life at different brothels in big cities of India and many other countries including the Midle East.

Safe migration; supportive policy and law implementation are not widely practiced in Bangladesh. As a result, Bangladeshi potential migrants are being exploited and victimized by the fraudulent group at home and abroad, speakers said.

They blamed less access to information and inadequate knowledge on migration, poor services by the service-providing agencies at all levels, lack of proactive movement of the policy makers and not enough social and economic reintegration plans for returnees for the situation.

Terming safe migration as the precondition for economic development, they advised all not to get deceived by dishonest manpower agencies but to follow the government’s instruction.

They also urged both print and electronic media to play a vital role in eliminating all sorts of human trafficking through highlighting various reports over the ill-treated group.