They made the call during the launch of a one-stop digital service centre to address trafficking during Covid-19 in Bangladesh. The launch event and a workshop were held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka yesterday.
The “Networking workshop to ensure services for the victims of human trafficking” was organized by INCIDIN Bangladesh and TdH Netherland with the support of Justice for Trafficking in Persons (JTIP) under USAID.
The one-stop digital service centre aims to raise awareness and improve reporting to combat human trafficking and ensure safe migration. It will initially operate in Keraniganj.
Mahmudul Kabir, country director of TDH Netherlands, said: “We have a national plan of action against human trafficking. Although we have made positive progress in combatting human trafficking from 2019, a lot needs to be done. During the Covid situation, human trafficking has intensified.”
He called for assistance from all stakeholders to combat trafficking and make the one-stop digital service centre a success.
AKM Masud Ali, executive director of INCIDIN Bangladesh, said: “We have found that many incidents of human trafficking have taken place in the name of migration. We want to create a platform for information where people can learn about the services available for migration and those which are misused through trafficking.”
He said anyone can register online to avail of services from the centre, and field level officials will help anyone having problems with registration.
“We want to create a mindset among people so that they seek assistance from helpline numbers,” he added.
Advocate Salma Ali, president of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA), said: “In cases of human trafficking, access to justice is an important issue. Only 3-4% of cases go to the verdict level. It is important that people have access to information on where to get legal help.”
She added that the country already has proper rules and regulations to tackle human trafficking, but they need to be effectively implemented.
Ishita Rony, deputy secretary (political-3) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said: “If this [centre] becomes successful, it can serve as an example and be expanded across the country. The more we do such projects at the grassroots level, the more will people become aware of them.”
Representatives from various government and non-government agencies also addressed the event, while victims of human trafficking shared their experiences.