RAJSHAHI, August 25, 2022 (BSS)- Integrated efforts of all the government and
non-government organisations concerned have become crucial to combat human
trafficking as the present government is intended to attain desired yield in
the field.

Under the dynamic and prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the
government has been working relentlessly to free the nation from the curse of
trafficking in persons.

So, all the authorities' concerned and other stakeholders should come forward
and work together to supplement the government endeavor.

High administrative and police officials made the observations while
addressing the inaugural session of a daylong divisional workshop styled
"National Work Plan 2018-2022 Implementation and Updating related to Human
Trafficking Prevention and Mitigation" here today.

Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Commissioner
Office of Rajshahi Division jointly organised the workshop supported by
USAID's Fight Slavery and Trafficking-In-Persons (FSTIP) Activity- WINROCK
International and Incidin Bangladesh.

Additional Secretary (Political and ICT Wing) to the Public Security Division
AKM Mukhlesur Rahman and Principal of Bangladesh Police Academy Abu Hassan
Muhammad Tarique addressed the workshop as chief and special guests
respectively, while Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner GSM Zafarullah was in
the chair.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Abdul Baten, Additional Commissioner of
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Mazid Ali, Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Abdul
Jalil, Deputy Commissioner of Dirajganj Dr Faruque Ahmed and Deputy
Commissioner of Chapainawabganj AKM Galiv Khan also spoke.

FSTIP Chief of Party Liesbeth Zonneveld and Executive Director of Incidin
Bangladesh AKM Masud Ali gave an illustration on the issue during their
concept paper presentations while Additional Divisional Commissioner Dr Ziaul
Haque welcomed the participants.

Chief Guest Mukhlesur Rahman said time has come to adopt effective programme
to combat the human trafficking and the government has formulated the
national work plan taking the issue into special consideration.

He also said there is a need of combating the human trafficking strictly to
attain cherished mark in different international scale besides achieving the
sustainable development goals.

To this end, the district, upazila and union-level human trafficking
prevention committees should be effective and strengthened.

Apart from this, measures should be taken to arrange awareness meeting in the
schools and colleges, particularly in the border-belt areas about discussing
the demerits of human trafficking.

Around 85 people, consisting of administrative, police and BGB officials,
media personnel and development activists from five districts, joined the
workshop.

They also put forward a set of recommendations on how to attain desired yield
in this field after taking part in its working session.