US vows to jointly fight human trafficking

US Ambassador in Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat reaffirmed on Tuesday her government's commitment to fighting against human trafficking together saying it is a critical time for Bangladesh, for this region, and for this call to action, report agencies.
"Today is an important day. Today, we reaffirm our ongoing commitment to fighting human trafficking. I'm grateful to be here at such a critical time for Bangladesh, for this region, and for this call to action," the US diplomat made the comments while addressing a function on "National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking" in the city.
State Minister of Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan, Senior Secretary of the ministry Dr M Mozammel Haque Khan, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, Law Secretary Abu Saleh Sk M Zahirul Haque and Expatiate Welfare Secretary Khandaker M Iftekhar Haider were present on the occasion.
Bernicat said all are outraged by the crimes being committed upon thousands of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis who have been stranded in overcrowded boats. "The anguish and helplessness of these people and their families have touched every one of us. Their stories put a human face on this crime and give us a clear message-we need to be more coordinated, stringent, and strategic with our actions to combat human trafficking," she said.
Meanwhile, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minster Anisul Huq said on Tuesday the government is working sincerely to curb human trafficking and a total 2,035 cases had been filed under the Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act until June 22, 2015. "Seven special tribunals would be set up at seven divisional headquarters of the country to try and punish the culprits involved in human trafficking, he said while responding to a scripted question of treasury member Md Mamunur Rashid Kiron from Noakhali-3 in parliament. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was in the chair.
The minister said district and session judges concerned would conduct the tribunals to stop human trafficking, which has now become a burning issue.
He said a proposal for forming those tribunals has already been sent to the Public Administration Ministry and until the tribunals are formed, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals were assigned to deal with those cases. "There are 2,035 cases filed on charges of human trafficking with different courts. Of those, 419 cases in the meantime have been cleared while the rest 1,616 cases are under trial," the minister added.