Cabinet approves MoU with Bangladesh on trafficking

The cabinet on Saturday approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh on the prevention of human trafficking and speedy prosecution.

"The union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for signing of a MoU on prevention of human trafficking especially trafficking in women and children: rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of victims of human trafficking," an official statement issued here said.

The cabinet also approved an agreement on coastal shipping between India and Bangladesh.

This has been done to strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of human trafficking, especially that of women and children, and ensure the speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organised crime syndicates in either country.

It will also help in enumeration of preventive measures that would be taken to eliminate human trafficking in women and children and in protecting the rights of victims of trafficking and their expeditious repatriation. The home country will undertake the safe and effective reintegration of the victims, the statement said.

A task force from India and Bangladesh would take coordinated action against individuals/touts/agents involved in human trafficking.

The task force, which has been meeting often, during its fourth meeting held in Mumbai in April last year, reviewed the progress on decisions taken in the earlier three meetings.