A workshop on human trafficking prevention was held in Jazira upazila of Shariatpur. Funded by the Swiss Embassy and supported by Winrock International, the workshop was organized under the Assash Project for men and women rescued from human trafficking. On April 21 (Monday) at noon, the workshop was held in the conference room of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office in Jazira, organized by the upazila administration and implemented by Shariatpur Development Society (SDS).

Government and non-government officials, local public representatives (UP Chairmen), journalists, social workers, and victims of human trafficking participated in the workshop. During the event, participants delivered speeches on various aspects of human trafficking. The workshop discouraged illegal migration abroad.

In the workshop, ATM Mazharul Islam, Regional Coordinator of Winrock International, said, “With funding from the Swiss government, we have been working on human trafficking prevention for a long time. People from this region are risking their lives to go illegally to countries like Italy. We are working with victims of trafficking and returnees, providing them with legal support as well as all kinds of assistance to help them live normal lives. Our main goal is to discourage people from becoming victims of illegal trafficking. For those who have already become victims and returned, we aim to provide mental support and help them reintegrate into a normal and healthy life. That is why we are extending all kinds of support to these victims.”

“We also have a special goal—to bring together all the social, governmental, and non-governmental organizations working to prevent human trafficking, so that victims can get all kinds of advice and support,” he added.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kaveri Roy said, “Those people who are enriching our country as remittance fighters—such workshops are highly inspiring for them. Everyone must come forward so that no one becomes a victim of illegal human trafficking. And for those who return home after being trafficked, mental support must be provided by their families and communities. Only then will they be able to return to a normal life.”

CTIP member Kaiyum Zaman said, “Those who travel abroad illegally are often promised one type of job but are given another. If they protest, they are tortured. Many female victims are taken abroad with false promises of work. For example, in countries like Saudi Arabia, women are sometimes sold instead of being given jobs. Some are rescued, but many are not. We identify such returnee victims and introduce them to Winrock and SDS.”

The workshop was conducted by SM Zakir Hossain, Project Manager of the Assash Project. Others present at the event included Officer-in-Charge of Jazira Police Station Dulal Akand, Jazira Upazila Youth Development Officer Alomgir Hossain, and various members of the CTIP committee from government and non-government sectors.