FIRST MEETING OF THE BAY OF BENGAL INITIATIVE FOR MULTI-SECTORIAL TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION (BIMSTEC) SUB-GROUP ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The government of the people's Republic of Bangladesh has host the First meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectorial Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) subgroup on Human Trafficking which was held on 26, 27 September in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The nomenclature of the Sub-Group as "BIMSTEC Sub-Group on Human Trafficking" has recommended by the ninth meeting of the BIMSTEC, JWG-CTTC held virtually in Thimphu, Bhutan on 25 November 2021, which was approved by the Eighteenth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 29 March 2022. The Sub-Group on Human Trafficking oversees by the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (JWG-CTTC) of the BIMSTEC.

The opening remark has been delivered by H.E. Mr. Md Mustafizur Rahman, BPAA, Senior Secretary, Public Security Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Bangladesh and a special remark was delivered by H.E. Tenzin Lekphell, the Secretary General of BIMSTEC.

An official from the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, participated as Sri Lankan delegate at the meeting. The member states of the BIMSTEC have presented their effort on Preventing and Suppression of Human Trafficking. Further, the meeting has finalized the Terms of Reference of the BIMSTEC Sub-Group on Human Trafficking.

As a BIMSTEC member state, Sri Lanka look forward to work cooperatively and collaboratively in the fight against Trafficking in Persons.