Skilled manpower, awareness key to combating human trafficking
Awareness at the grassroots, available employment opportunities and skilled manpower are crucial in combatting human trafficking, said discussants at an anti-trafficking programme Tuesday.
The Bangladesh Counter Trafficking-in-Persons Programme, in collaboration with the home ministry, organised the event titled "National Consultation with the Members of Counter-Trafficking Committees on National Plan of Action for Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking 2018-2022".
Md Joynal Abedin Mollah, additional secretary at the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry, said, "Potential migrant workers need to know the proper channel of migration to be safe from being trafficked, and skilled manpower is essential for safe and effective migration."
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He emphasised grassroots awareness campaigns for combatting human tracking.
Saleh Uddin Chowdhury, Cox's Bazar district education officer, said the trafficking situation would improve if the country could increase available employment opportunities by creating skilled manpower through providing technical and vocational training.
Mostafa Kamal Uddin, senior secretary of Public Security Division at the home ministry, said, "Although there are some limitations in the implementation of the human trafficking prevention act and the National Plan of Action, sincere efforts of counter-trafficking committees members can eliminate human trafficking at the grassroots level."
Md Jahangir Alam, additional secretary of the Public Security Division at the home ministry, urged the counter-trafficking committee members to maintain coordination with the grassroots and national level committees.
Liesbeth Zonneveld, chief of party, Bangladesh Counter Trafficking-in- Persons Programme, delivered her welcome speech while AKM Masud Ali, executive director, INCIDIN Bangladesh made a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of counter-trafficking committees.
It can be noted that Winrock International is the implementing agency of the Bangladesh Counter Trafficking-in-Persons Programme with the USAID as the financier.
