Human Trafficking No Longer as Widespread as Before:Law Minister

Human trafficking is no longer as widespread as before, said Mr. Md. Asaduzzaman, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. He said the country faces an unemployment crisis. He said the government cannot stop people from going abroad to seek a livelihood. He added that the government remains committed to protecting citizens’ rights in every situation.

Mr. Asaduzzaman made these remarks as chief guest at a national consultation meeting yesterday, Thursday morning, at Hotel Continental in the capital. The Ministry of Law and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized the event. The meeting focused on strengthening criminal justice responses to prevent human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

At the meeting, the Law Minister called human trafficking one of the most serious, inhuman, and cruel acts. He said fraudsters, criminals, and mafias extract money through this process. He said they earn large sums of money at the cost of people’s lives. He said the government remains committed to changing this situation.

The minister said several laws have been amended to prevent human trafficking. He said the government has made the definition of human trafficking more realistic. He said this broader definition can now apply across a wider range of trafficking cases. He said the 2026 Human Trafficking Act includes these new provisions.

He said the government amended the Gambling Act of 1887. He said this brought online gambling, trafficking, and similar illegal activities under the legal framework. He said the government introduced other laws that also cover aspects of human trafficking.

The Law Minister said Bangladesh ratified the Trafficking Protocol in September 2019. He said Bangladesh has since worked to fulfil its commitments to the international community. He noted some limitations in this effort. He said law enforcement agencies remain vigilant but face staff shortages.

He said authorities face limits in getting proper cooperation from complainants. He said they also face limits in gathering sufficient evidence and other required information. Mr. Asaduzzaman said trafficking is no longer as widespread as before. He said everyone must acknowledge this decline.

He again noted the country’s unemployment crisis. He said the government cannot stop people from seeking work abroad. He said many people travel abroad on tourist visas and later become undocumented migrants there. He asked for help finding ways to protect the rights of migrants working abroad.

He said the government remains committed to protecting citizens’ rights in every situation. He acknowledged some shortcomings but welcomed good recommendations. Mr. Md. Khadem Ul Kayes, Additional Secretary of the Law Ministry, chaired the event. Mr. Christian Holgee, UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia, attended as special guest.