The Bangladesh Cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to sign a memorandum of understanding with India for the rescue, repatriation and rehabilitation of human trafficking victims.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo.
According to a report prepared by the United Nations Organisation on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) this year, in Bangladesh, the number of reported incidents of human trafficking is on the rise.
Bangladesh is seen primarily as a source and transit country for human trafficking, involving a high number of cases of women, girls and also young men being trafficked between Bangladesh and India.
In response to this, the Government of Bangladesh has been addressing human trafficking in a comprehensive way. The enactment of the Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act 2012 has resulted in an increased number of investigations and prosecutions.
Furthermore, the National Plan of Action (2012-2014) for Combating Human Trafficking that guides anti-human trafficking policy and measures in the country; adopts a holistic approach towards countering human trafficking by defining responsibilities of key stakeholders and identifying important issues that need immediate attention.
These include prevention of trafficking, protection of victims, prosecution of traffickers, cross-country partnership etc.
Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) have been established in India to counter this menace.
