Speakers at a webinar on Wednesday stressed the need for creating job opportunities at home to help combat human trafficking.
To this effect, it is needed to ensure necessary investment as well as initiatives from public, private and other organisations, they said.
The participants of the virtual discussion also pointed out that the cases on human trafficking remained stockpiled over the years. But the number of settlements of the cases is insignificant. Monitoring is important in this regard, they added.
BRAC organised the virtual discussion ahead of World Day Against Human Trafficking in Persons observed on July 30 each year.
Speaking as a chief guest Nasima Begum, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission said human trafficking is a heinous crime. There is no alternative but to eliminate this offense.
United effort is crucial to combat such criminal activities; she said and added that proper initiatives from relevant ministries and organisations can prevent it.
Abu Bakr Siddique, additional secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, said it has to be given attention on the root causes of human trafficking.
“Because I think the main reason for human trafficking is a scarcity of employment opportunities at home,” he said.
Shariful Islam Hasan, head of BRAC's migration programme said that the number of cases of human trafficking is increasing every year.
About 6,000 cases were filed against human traffickers. But victims are not getting justice, he said, adding some 625 cases were filed in 2019 of which only 39 were settled.
Covid-19 pandemic increased this problem in many ways, Mr Hasan said.
He, however, mentioned that Bangladesh improved one step from Tire-2 watch list of United State’s Trafficking in Persons Report-2020.
“This progress has to be continued by us,” he added
Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, chairman of Bangladesh NGO Foundation chaired the programme said, “Human trafficking is a trade of about US$150 billion worldwide. It is an ancient business. But it has changed its characteristics”.
Dipta Rakshit, team leader at Winrock International, Bangladesh Ashshash project moderated the programme where academicians, officials, among others, were present.
