Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said Bangladesh’s government is giving top priority to protecting citizens from human trafficking and technology-based crime, and remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy against international trafficking and scam networks. He made the remarks on July 30 at a national dialogue marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in the capital.

Ahmed said trafficking networks are increasingly using digital channels, fake online recruitment platforms and social media to target young people and jobseekers. Victims are lured abroad with false promises of attractive work and better futures, then confined in cyber scam centres, subjected to abuse and intimidation, and forced into criminal activity. He called for a coordinated prevention system involving technology companies, financial institutions, the private sector and an aware public.

The government has enacted the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (Prevention and Suppression) Act, 2026, covering online scams, technology-driven inducement and forced criminality with strict penalties. A 2026-2030 national action plan is being finalized, while referral mechanisms and a digital anti-trafficking information platform are being strengthened.