Momen urges developed nations to transfer anti-human trafficking technology

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday urged the developed countries to transfer latest technology to check human trafficking as it is a trans-boundary crime while traffickers may possess better technology than it is available in a particular country.

“The developed country and the international partners need to ensure smooth transfer of the latest technological innovations to the developing countries to effectively combat the human trafficking in persons,” he said.

The foreign minister was speaking at the national consultation on ‘Combating Human Trafficking in the Context of Technology Use and its Abuse’, organized by the Public Security Division and the Bangladesh UN Network on Migration at a city hotel, BSS reports.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and high government officials as well as representatives from foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations were also present.

Dr Momen said Bangladesh missions abroad are engaged to create awareness among the expatriates to help them not to fall victims to human trafficking.

“We remain vigilant to protect our citizens from falling victims to trafficking – fraudulent and forced labour – in any forms,” he said.

The foreign minister said his ministry launched a dynamic mobile application named DUTABASH to provide consular and welfare services at home and abroad.

In case of emergency support, he said a citizen can press the SOS button for 3 seconds and an emergency support request will be forwarded to a Bangladesh Mission with his or her pre-registered information.

He said any incident of human trafficking abroad can also be reported through hotline numbers as all missions abroad have a dedicated hotline number, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Momen said the foreign ministry conducts rescue operations and arranges the repatriation of the victims of trafficking in person in coordination with the missions abroad and relevant government agencies.

He informed that, since September 2021, the government has repatriated around 2500 victims of trafficking.