DHAKA: Responding to repeated calls from International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Malaysia, Bangladesh government is taking necessary initiatives both at home and abroad to prevent human trafficking.

Sources close to the government told banglanews that Bangladesh foreign ministry held an intra-ministerial meeting immediately on May 12 a day after IMO sought cooperation from southeast Asian governments on May 11.

At the meeting, authorities concerned decided to hold more sittings in a bid to fix necessary measures to prevent human trafficking and rescue the victims of trafficking from sea.

Following the day, foreign ministry officials sat for another meeting on May 13. After the meet, officials concerned informed the home ministry about its decisions and necessary steps.

Meanwhile, foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali left Dhaka for Malaysia on May 14 to attend the fourth foreign minister-level joint commission meeting between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur.

Sources of foreign ministry said different issued related to bilateral interest including continuation of visa relaxation, economic cooperation, and trade boosting will be discussed at the meeting.

However, issue of stopping human trafficking through sea route will get more emphasis there, the sources added.

State minister for home Asaduzzaman Khan arrived in Cox’s Bazar on Friday. He is set to join a meeting of the law and discipline committee Saturday afternoon.

Moreover, home ministry has already begun implementing many measures including formation of anti-human trafficking committee at the trafficking-prone union parishads, upazilas and districts, adjacent to country’s border.

Drives against human trafficking gangs and networks have also been increased across the country. Traffickers were caught in capital as elsewhere in the country, and killed in gunfight with police in Cox’s Bazar.

Moreover, law enforcers rescued a large number of trafficking victims during the drives.

BDST: 1238 HRS, MAY 16, 2015
HB/RR/SMS