New anti-trafficking law to help curb technology-enabled crimes: Home minister

The minister said these as the chief guest while addressing the National Dissemination Meeting on the "Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2026," held at the Ruposhi Bangla Grand Ballroom of Hotel InterContinental in the capital on Wednesday morning

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has expressed optimism that the new law (Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2026) will play a crucial role in preventing human trafficking and migrant smuggling, as well as curbing the abuse of digital platforms and technology by organised criminal networks.

He stated that Bangladesh’s legal and institutional capacity has been elevated to international standards, keeping pace with the constantly evolving tactics of criminal syndicates.

The minister said these as the chief guest while addressing the National Dissemination Meeting on the "Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2026," held at the Ruposhi Bangla Grand Ballroom of Hotel InterContinental in the capital on Wednesday morning.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and Justice and Care, Bangladesh, jointly organised the event to further strengthen Bangladesh's commitment through a modern legal and institutional framework to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Presided over by Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the event was attended by Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, Ambassador of the United States to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen, Inspector General of Bangladesh Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir, DG of Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque, DG of BGB Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Dr Ziauddin Ahmed as special guests.

In his speech, the Minister reiterated the firm and unwavering commitment of the government of Bangladesh to suppress human trafficking and migrant smuggling through a strong law, effective institutional coordination, and a victim-centric criminal justice system.

He said, "The newly enacted 'Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2026' is a significant milestone in Bangladesh's efforts to combat these serious transnational crimes."

He added that close cooperation among government institutions, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, development partners, and civil society is essential for the successful implementation of the new law.

The minister further highlighted that the new law clearly defines human trafficking and migrant smuggling as separate and distinct offenses; establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the suppression and prosecution of migrant smuggling as a criminal offense; strengthens the capacity for investigation and prosecution; enhances the protection of victims and witnesses; and expands the scope of international cooperation in line with global standards. At the same time, the law upholds the internationally recognised principle of non-criminalisation of victims, ensuring their dignity, rights, and security at every stage of the criminal justice process.

This national-level dissemination program created an important opportunity to build a unified and clear understanding of the new law among the institutions responsible for its implementation. Participants exchanged views on the key provisions and implementation framework of the Act. The priorities for effective enforcement, including strengthening coordination at every step of the criminal justice process—from investigation to judicial disposal—were also discussed during the session.

Human trafficking and migrant smuggling are among the most serious forms of transnational organized crime. These crimes exploit vulnerable people, weaken the rule of law, and pose threats to national and regional security. Participants emphasized the necessity of continuous national and international cooperation to prevent these crimes, protect victims and survivors, dismantle organized crime networks, and bring perpetrators to justice.

At the event, Mohammad Tariqul Islam, Country Director of Justice and Care, Bangladesh, presented the background, rationale, and key provisions of the new law. This was followed by a high-level discussion on implementation priorities and inter-institutional coordination.

This initiative reflects the strong leadership and coordinating role of the Ministry of Home Affairs in advancing Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to prevent human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Senior representatives from the Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Coast Guard, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Branch (SB) of Police, National Security Intelligence (NSI), the judiciary, prosecution, relevant ministries and government departments, diplomatic missions, various UN agencies, international organizations, development partners, national and international non-governmental organizations, and civil society participated in the program.