BRAC meeting calls for stronger awareness on human trafficking
Church and religious leaders play a critical role in combating human trafficking and people smuggling, House Superior of Ramna Archbishop's House Father Albert Rozario said on Tuesday.
He emphasised that, while the government must prioritise awareness-raising activities, eradicating such crimes requires sustained, collective action across all sectors of society.
Father Rozario made these remarks while chairing a consultation with Christian religious leaders at the Pastoral Centre of the Archbishop's House in Ramna.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The event was organised by the BRAC Migration Programme as part of its 'Mass Campaign to Combat Human Trafficking and People Smuggling', in collaboration with the Australian Government.
Headmistress of Holy Cross Girls' High School Sister Kalpona Costa highlighted the vulnerability of marginalised groups, noting: "Human trafficking is the world's second-largest illegal business. Indigenous girls migrating from rural villages to Dhaka are particularly at risk of exploitation by trafficking syndicates. We plan to launch awareness programmes in school assemblies and classrooms, and use church prayer days to address the prevention of trafficking and irregular migration."
Participants also raised concerns about deceptive recruitment practices in the healthcare sector.
Sister Florence Mita Das (SSMI), head of Salesian Sisters House, said: "Many from our community travel overseas for careers in nursing. Recently, we have seen a growing trend of individuals being lured by false promises of 'on-site training' abroad—often the first step in a trafficking scheme. We must remain vigilant."
The programme opened with a welcome address from Blaise Anthony Gomes, Manager of the BRAC Migration Programme, followed by a keynote presentation by Shariful Islam Hasan, Associate Director of BRAC's Migration Programme and Youth Platform.
The meeting drew religious leaders and representatives from churches and educational institutions across Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj.
BRAC, established in 1972, noted that it works globally to empower communities and foster socio-economic development. Since 2006, the BRAC Migration Programme has been active in migration-prone districts across Bangladesh.
According to BRAC, the programme focuses on promoting safe migration through accurate information, preventing human trafficking, supporting the reintegration of returnees, and conducting advocacy and training to uphold the rights of migrant workers.
