Call for Coordinated Anti-Trafficking Action

District Commissioner Farida Khanam of Farida Khanam has stressed the need for a coordinated approach involving government authorities, law enforcement agencies, local administration, public representatives, the media, and citizens to prevent human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

She made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of a district-level workshop titled “Prevention of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling”, held on Monday (15 June) at the District Commissioner’s Conference Room in Dhaka District.

Human trafficking as a serious rights issue

In her address, the District Commissioner stated that human trafficking is not merely a criminal offence but a grave violation of human rights. She described it as a serious threat to societal security and human values. According to her, trafficking undermines dignity and exposes vulnerable individuals to exploitation and abuse.

She emphasised that many people, driven by the hope of a better livelihood abroad, are falling prey to organised broker networks. These intermediaries often mislead individuals into undertaking irregular and high-risk migration routes, particularly through maritime pathways, which she noted as a growing concern.

Risks of irregular migration

Farida Khanam highlighted that irregular migration has resulted in multiple forms of harm. Many individuals attempting such journeys lose their lives, go missing, or become victims of exploitation and mistreatment after reaching destination countries. She underlined that while safe, orderly and legal migration is a fundamental right, irregular migration places individuals in severe danger.

She also stressed the importance of ensuring accurate information reaches communities, particularly those at risk of being targeted by trafficking networks. Raising awareness at the grassroots level, she said, is essential for prevention.

Need for multi-stakeholder cooperation

The District Commissioner further noted that preventing human trafficking cannot be achieved by any single institution alone. It requires coordinated efforts from government and non-government organisations, educational institutions, religious leaders, the media, and other stakeholders.

She placed particular importance on engaging young people, urging that they be made aware of safe migration processes and informed about the tactics used by trafficking networks.

Policy framework and local implementation

Farida Khanam also stated that the government has already introduced various laws, policies, and action plans aimed at combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling. However, she stressed that effective implementation at the local level requires stronger coordination, improved information sharing, and greater public participation.

She expressed hope that the discussions, experiences, and recommendations shared during the workshop would contribute significantly to identifying effective strategies for combating trafficking.

Presence of law enforcement

The event was also attended by Shamima Parveen as a special guest, alongside other officials and participants engaged in discussions on strengthening anti-trafficking measures.

Workshop overview

The workshop concluded with a renewed emphasis on strengthening institutional coordination and expanding awareness campaigns to reduce vulnerability to trafficking and unsafe migration practices.