Speakers at seminar here on Wednesday laid emphasis on joint efforts and broader cooperation to prevent human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the hybrid seminar on "Promoting Multilateral Cooperation to Prevent Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling" at the BIISS auditorium. 

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Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley spoke at the seminar chaired by BIISS Chairman Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain.

BIISS Director General Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, OSP, BSP, psc Director General, BIISS, delivered the welcome address.

In his address, Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman said  that Bangladesh is aware of the increasing challenges of human trafficking.

“Bangladesh, realizing, the urgency. passed the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act in 2012 and has also become a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and Their Families and also adopted the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act in 2013.”

Moreover, under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also implementing a National Action of Plan (NAP) for Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking for the year 2018-2022, he said.

Ambassador Whiteley noted that refugee issue has become one of the hot and red button topics in Europe. 

Sexual exploitation also continued to be the most commonly-detected form of trafficking, he said. 

The envoy observed nowadays migrants smuggling has become a profitable business. 

He praised the government of Bangladesh's effort in reducing human trafficking and noted that the EU is supporting Bangladesh in reducing human trafficking.

Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain said that South Asia comprises countries that are source, transit and destination countries for trafficking in persons. 

The working session of the seminar was chaired by Professor Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui, Department of Political Science,University of Dhaka.  

Benuka Ferdousi, Research Fellow, BIISS, presented on "Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants- Global and Bangladesh Perspective". 

Md, Obaidul Haque. Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, presented on "Preventing Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants: Challenges". 

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Yujin Park, Program Manager of Migration and Protection Unit, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Bangladesh presented on "Multilateral Cooperation to Prevent Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants- Global Perspectives". 

Asif Munier, Migration and Displacement specialist, presented on "Multilateral Cooperation to Prevent Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants- Bangladesh Perspectives".