MoU to be signed with India to stop human trafficking

The government will sign a memorandum of understanding with India on rescue, repatriation and rehabilitation of victims of cross-border human trafficking.

The MoU might be signed during the home secretary-level meeting in Dhaka from Sep 2-4, Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said. The proposal was approved by cabinet on Monday.

"The Indian government has already approved the signing," Bhuiyan said.

He said women and children were trafficked from Bangladesh to many countries, particularly India. Some Indians too were brought into Bangladesh.

"Both nations are concerned about this. Both the home ministries have been focusing on this issue and have formed a joint taskforce to prevent trafficking," he added.

The secretary said anyone under-eighteen will be considered children under this MoU.

"The traffickers will be prosecuted under each country's own laws. We will take assistance from various law enforcement agencies, border management agencies and non-government development organisations," he said.

India and Bangladesh will exchange information to prevent trafficking.

"The primary aim of this MoU is to ensure victims' security, their privacy, repatriation at the earliest possible time and rehabilitation," he said.

According to UNFPA, around 15,000 people, mostly women and children, are smuggled out of Bangladesh every year.

Under a 2012 law the highest penalty for human trafficking in the country is death sentence.