Effective plan of action needed to stop child trafficking: Speakers

RAJSHAHI, Jan 22 (BSS): Speakers at a seminar here today (Wednesday) emphasized the need for formulating an effective and meaningful plan of action to check trafficking in children.
They also laid emphasis on collective efforts of all government and non- government organisations, media and public representatives to free the society from the heinous crime.  Terming child trafficking as a serious crime, they called for a social movement to attain the cherished goal.
The seminar styled 'Prevention of local level child trafficking: Role of government and civil society" was held at Master Chef Restaurant in Rajshahi city. Lady's Organization for Social Welfare (LOFS) organized the programme in association with Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum and TDH, Netherlands.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and Development) Tuhinur Alam addressed the seminar as chief guest while President of Rajshahi Union of Journalists Akbarul Hassan Millat and LOFS President Murshed Ahmed Kuraishi spoke as special guests.
In her address of welcome, Shahnaz Begum, Executive Director of LOFS, said trafficking in human beings, especially children, is increasing alarmingly in the country due to poverty, illiteracy and limitations in the existing laws.
She said proper enforcement of the existing laws and regulations and an active role of law enforcing agencies can also help stop human trafficking.
With LOFS Vice-president Abdus Sobhan Mian in the chair, LOFS Programme Officer Farhana Anzum Mimi presented the key note paper on the topic.
Around 20,000 Bangladeshi people, including women and children, are trafficked to India, Pakistan and other countries in the Middle East for sale every year, Farhana Mimi said quoting her research findings.
She mentioned that poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, drug-addiction and cross- border trade have so far been identified as the main reasons behind the trafficking of women and children.
Putting forward a set of recommendations she suggested that all the Saarc nations should come forward to prevent the crime forming a regional cooperation body.
Mimi said the media can play a significant role in checking the crime through publishing reports on the issue. She stressed the need to create awareness among public representatives and vulnerable people about the menace of child trafficking in the society.