Bangladesh and India will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on prevention of human trafficking and rehabilitation of the victims at a home secretary-level meeting beginning in Dhaka today, in what comes as the first major interaction between the two neighbouring countries after the regime change in Delhi.
To this end, the cabinet in its meeting Monday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair approved the proposal for signing the accord that provides for collaborative actions in dealing with the problem of trans-border trafficking in human persons.
The Indian home secretary arrives here today (Tuesday) to attend the September 2-4 official-level talks.
Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told the media after the cabinet meeting that the council of ministers approved the MoU between Bangladesh and India on bilateral cooperation for prevention of human trafficking, specially trafficking in women and children.
"The MoU covers provisions of rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of victims of trafficking," he said, adding that Dhaka expects the deal would help address the problem of human trafficking.
"Bangladesh and India are currently working on the issue under standard operation procedure (SOP). The MoU is likely to be signed during the ensuing visit of Indian home secretary to Bangladesh," the cabinet secretary said.
He informed that a joint taskforce working on human-trafficking problems between the two countries had prepared the MoU. It has already been approved by the Indian government.
Under the terms of the MoU, all people under 18 years of age will be considered children. Action would be taken against the human traffickers as per law of the respective countries and focal points of the countries would take necessary action in this respect.
Musharraf further said the focal points of the respective countries would go for necessary actions in this regard with necessary support from law-enforcement agencies, border guards of the two countries and NGOs working to this end.
Bangladesh and India would also follow the Coordinated Border Management Plan and exchange necessary information.
The cabinet also gave final approval to the draft 'Railway Security Force Act 2014' that replaces the Railways Security Force Ordinance 1976.
The ordinance became defunct with the annulment of the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution through the Supreme Court verdict in 2010.
Now, the draft act will go to the Ministry of Law for vetting. The cabinet secretary said the 'Railway Security Force Act 2014' would be a useful and effective law for protecting the property of Bangladesh Railway.
It will also ensure better coordination between the duties of the Railway Security Force and Government Railway Police (GRP).
In a further legal move on the rail sector, the cabinet approved in principle the draft 'Railway Properties (unlawful possession) Act 2014" with some observations.
The cabinet was apprised about the participation of Bangladesh delegation in the 39th Board of Governors Meeting of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and 40th founding anniversary of the IDB in Jeddah.
