Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said the government is committed to protecting the rights of citizens under all circumstances.
He made the remarks at a national consultation meeting held at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka on Thursday on strengthening the criminal justice system’s response to human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Describing human trafficking as one of the most serious and inhumane crimes, the law minister said fraudsters, criminals and mafia groups make large sums of money through the exploitation of human lives.
“The government is committed to changing this situation,” he said.
Highlighting amendments to laws aimed at curbing human trafficking, Md Asaduzzaman said: “We have amended several laws. We have made the definition of human trafficking more realistic so that it can be applied to a wider range of trafficking activities. We have incorporated such provisions under the Human Trafficking Prevention Act.”
“We amended the Gambling Act of 1887 to bring online gambling, trafficking and similar illegal activities under our legal framework. Additionally, we have introduced other laws that also cover aspects of human trafficking,” he added.
The law minister said Bangladesh ratified the protocol on human trafficking in September 2019 and has since been working to fulfil its commitments to the international community.
Acknowledging some limitations faced by law enforcement agencies, he said: “Our law enforcement agencies are quite vigilant. However, they face constraints regarding manpower, adequate cooperation from complainants, and the acquisition of suitable evidence and other necessary elements.”
He said human trafficking was no longer as widespread as it had been in the past, noting that Bangladesh also faces an unemployment crisis and cannot prevent people from travelling abroad in search of livelihoods.
“It must be acknowledged that human trafficking is not as widespread now as it used to be. You must remember that our country faces an unemployment crisis; we cannot prevent people from going abroad in search of a livelihood,” he said.
Noting that many people become undocumented migrants after travelling abroad on tourist visas, he sought assistance in ensuring the rights of Bangladeshis travelling overseas.
“In this context, we are seeking your assistance on how to ensure the rights of migrants travelling abroad,” he said.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to protecting citizens’ rights, Md Asaduzzaman said: “We are committed to safeguarding the rights of our citizens under any circumstances. We may have some shortcomings, but we welcome any constructive recommendations you may have.”
UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia Christian Holge attended the event as a special guest.
The meeting was presided over by Md Khademul Kayes, additional secretary of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.