He came up with the remarks while speaking as chief guest at a webinar on "Bangladesh E-Judicial Colloquium to prevent and address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants".
The COVID-19 crisis and economic recession triggered more risks for women, men and children of being trafficked, he said.
“Cooperation is fundamental to combat the exploitation of women, children and men by human traffickers. But cooperation is only the start! We also need legal, social and economic anti-trafficking strategies,” the minister said.
The country is currently implementing a comprehensive National Plan of Action for Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking (2018-2022), he said.
“As millions of people are suffering from this global crime, we must act urgently,” Huq said.
“The victims demand it. We must review the data, develop the processes and encourage national laws to prosecute those who exploit the human beings,” he added.
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