Strong political will needed to curb human trafficking

A national strategy as well as strong political commitment are also needed to tackle the problem, they added.

The issue should be dealt with regionally, nationally and internationally and raising awareness as well as reducing poverty are a must to tackle the problem, they said.

The Khan Foundation in cooperation with the Unicef organised the national conference titled 'Trafficking on the Saarc Agenda: The Way Forward' at the LGRD auditorium in the city.

Referring to the ratification of Saarc Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution at the 13th Saarc summit, the speakers said it is time to take initiatives to proceed to the next stage.

Speaking as the chief guest, LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said poverty in the Saarc states is the main factor behind trafficking in persons.

He also called for raising awareness among the people and involving local government in the fight against trafficking.

Prof Amena Mohsin of Dhaka University presented a keynote paper on 'Overview of Child Trafficking in Bangladesh' while Prof Ishrat Shamim, president of Centre for Women and Children Studies, presented an analysis of key recommendations of the 13th Saarc Summit.

Criticising the definition provided in the convention as very narrow, Prof Ishrat Shamim said it has overlooked some pertinent issues.

"The convention does not clarify the recipient country's accountability in rescue, rehabilitation, repatriation of trafficked women and children," she added.

Executive Director of Khan Foundation Advocate Rokhsana Khondker chaired the conference.

Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs M Hyder Ali, Representative of Unicef Bangladesh Louis Georges Arsenault, Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Sarfar Raj Hossain, Deputy Secretary Shaik Abdur Rouf, Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation Mizanur Rahman Minu and Mizanur Rahman of International Organisation for Migration (IOM) also spoke.