The US on Monday recognized Al Amin Noyon as a TIP Hero for his role in combating human trafficking.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented Noyon with the award during the annual report publication ceremony on human trafficking in Washington, DC.
Noyon then released his Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report and delivered his speech.
Noyon, manager of the Brac Migration Welfare Center (MWC), assists returning expatriates and human trafficking victims at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. This year, he stands out as the sole recipient of this South Asian award.
Other awardees include individuals from Kenya, Mali, the Philippines, Serbia, Spain, Suriname, Bolivia, and Iraq, making up a total of nine recipients in 2024.
At this year's ceremony, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "Thank you to the nine TIP Heroes selected from all around the world who have brought significant changes in people's lives."
Speaking on the feeling of being honoured as a TIP Hero, Al Amin Noyon said: "I was a victim of human trafficking whilst working in Malaysia. After my return, I joined efforts to support victims of irregular migration and trafficking. As a manager at Brac MWC, I try to assist returnee migrants and trafficking victims across Bangladesh.
"My work has often put me in various dangers, including nights spent in jail. This award will motivate me to bolster my efforts towards the people in need."
Since 2004, the US Department of State has annually honoured individuals dedicated to combating human trafficking through the TIP award, which is considered the most significant honour in the fight against human trafficking, adds the release.
Human rights activist Noyon has assisted at least 34,000 migrants who are returning from abroad or have been victims of trafficking.
Brac Associate Director for Migration Program, Shariful Islam Hasan, expressed that Noyon, through his work, is considered a brother to the returnees and said: "People as dedicated and spirited as Al Amin Noyon, who have been victims of trafficking and are expatriates themselves, are rare. He truly is a hero to us all."
In 2023, Noyon received Brac's most prestigious “Sir Fazle Hasan Abed Values Award”.
Shariful said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Noyon worked to provide food and medical aid and to help returnee expatriates reach their families in an emergency. Now, whenever the airport staffs see a mentally ill or support-less migrant, the Expatriate Welfare Desk or the Airport Armed Police Battalion call Al Amin Noyon.
As president of the largest network for victims of human trafficking in Bangladesh, Anirban Survivor Voice, Noyon faced numerous challenges, said the release.
In December 2023, he was arrested in a case that was denounced as false and harassing by multiple organisations working in the migration sector. Currently, he is out on bail in this case.
