Bangladesh makes progress in curbing trafficking-in-persons: US Embassy

Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh has made progress in curbing trafficking-in-persons in recent years, having established seven special tribunals, created anti-trafficking task forces, and implemented the National Plan of Action, said US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Helen LaFave on Wednesday.
“No plan can be successful if it doesn’t lead to action. This is why the United States will continue to support the Government of Bangladesh’s efforts to strengthen the National Plan of Action and end the horrific crime of trafficking-in-persons,” she said.
The statement came while inaugurating a workshop to revise and extend the National Plan of Action for Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking held in a city hotel.
Md. Aminul Islam Khan, Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs was present as the Chief Guest.
The US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Fight Slavery and Trafficking-in-Persons project organised the event to bring together government and civil society stakeholders to incorporate feedback from regional workshops into the revised National Plan of Action, said an embassy release.
“Fighting human trafficking is one of the US government’s top priorities and we are committed to partnering with the Government of Bangladesh to prevent these crimes,” Helen LaFave said.
“Human trafficking targets the most vulnerable in our communities. From April 2021 through March 2022 Bangladesh reported 580 cases of sex trafficking and 6,378 cases of labour trafficking. The victims were men, women, and even children,” she continued.
“Because of Bangladesh’s commitment, the US State Department has placed Bangladesh on its Tier 2 for its Trafficking-in-Persons report since 2020. Since then, Bangladesh has also established seven special tribunals, created task forces at four of the tribunals, created one Women and Children Repression Prevention tribunal in Cox’s Bazar, and demonstrated that it is committed to implementing the National Plan of Action,” she also said.
The expansion of the National Plan of Action will run through 2025 and strengthen measures to prosecute perpetrators more efficiently while protecting survivors and helping them reintegrate into society.
The US government has supported Bangladesh’s efforts to develop the National Plan of Action and prevent trafficking-in-persons. USAID’s Fight Slavery and Trafficking in Persons project provided training to over 400 judges, public prosecutors, tribunal staff, and panel lawyers, and another 3,000 members of community counter-trafficking committees.