Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed reaffirmed the government's unwavering commitment on Thursday to safeguarding citizens against human trafficking and digital financial scams, pledging a "zero tolerance" stance against international criminal syndicates leveraging digital channels to exploit victims.

The minister made the statement at a national symposium titled “Trapped Behind the Scam: Ending Human Trafficking for Forced Criminality,” held at a city hotel to observe World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026.

The event was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Counter-Trafficking Technical Working Group of the UN Migration Network.

Delivering his address, the minister cautioned that trafficking networks have grown increasingly sophisticated and dynamic in their tactics.

Criminal operations are progressively exploiting digital channels, fraud-ridden employment portals, and social media platforms to ensnare young demographics and jobseekers, he stated.

"Victims are being taken abroad with false promises of attractive employment and a better future. They are then held captive in cyber scam centres, subjected to severe abuse and intimidation, and forced to engage in criminal activities," he stated.

The minister observed that transnational rings are relying ever more heavily on modern communications infrastructure to facilitate illicit trade.

Highlighting legislative strides, the minister pointed out that Bangladesh reached a "historic milestone" by enacting the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (Prevention and Suppression) Act, 2026, bringing domestic legal frameworks into harmony with international standards.

He explained that the newly framed legislation aligns with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and its supplementary protocols.

Under the revised statute, modern tech-driven offenses—including internet fraud, online scamming operations, and coercion into criminal syndicates—are subjected to strict penal provisions, he noted.

Simultaneously, administrative efforts are underway to update the Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Rules, 2017, to expedite law enforcement mechanisms, the minister added.

Additionally, the Ministry of Home Affairs is finalizing the National Action Plan (2026-2030) through collaborative discussions with relevant stakeholders.

The upcoming five-year framework will bolster four core areas: prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership, the minister remarked.

The national dialogue was chaired by Monzur Morshed Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Special addresses were delivered by Law and Justice Division Secretary Md Liakat Ali Mollah, Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir, EU Chargé d'Affaires Baiba Zarina, and IOM Bangladesh Chief of Mission and UN Migration Network Coordinator Dr Laura Tomm Bonde.

The conference was also attended by Bangladesh Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque alongside Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Additional Director General Brigadier General Md Sohrab Hossain Bhuiyan.

The gathering brought together senior ministry officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from international development partner agencies, law enforcement leadership, and media personnel.