BD working firmly to deal with human trafficking: Rizvi

Terming human trafficking a heinous criminal act, PM’s international affairs adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi on Wednesday said Bangladesh has been working firmly to deal with the problem. Dr Rizvi came up with the remark while addressing the inaugural session of an international conference on Strengthening Police Cooperation on Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants as the chief guest at a city hotel. He said regional cooperation is a must among the effected countries. "Affected countries—the countries, which from being human trafficked, destination of the country as well as countries, which are being used as transit by the human traffickers––have to work together to combat human trafficking." Dr Rizvi said Bangladesh has already signed a number of agreements both at home and abroad to combat human trafficking. Besides, seven tribunals have also been formed in the country for the speedy trial of human trafficking-related cases, he added. The PM’s adviser stressed the importance of having in place an effective specialist police investigation unit and a comprehensive legal framework in promoting international police cooperation in trans-national criminal investigations. Bangladesh Police in cooperation with the Australian Federal Police and the UNDP Police Reform Programme (PRP) organised the two-day conference, according to a news agency.