Home minister, new IOM chief discuss anti-human trafficking, border management cooperation

Dhaka: The newly appointed Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bangladesh, Dr. Laura Tomm-Bonde, met Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation on combating human trafficking, modernizing border management, and promoting safe migration.

The meeting, held at the Home Ministry at the Bangladesh Secretariat on July 28, marked the first bilateral engagement between the ministry and Dr. Tomm-Bonde since she assumed her new role in Bangladesh, said a press release from the ministry.

The two sides discussed ways to reinforce their two-decade-long partnership, with particular emphasis on strengthening national efforts against human trafficking, tackling technology-enabled trafficking, improving integrated border management, and enhancing institutional capacity.

During the meeting, the IOM chief informed the minister that the organization's Deputy Director General, Ugochi Daniel, will visit Bangladesh from August 1 to 5. She invited the minister to attend a special reception in his honor at the UN House in Dhaka on August 4.

Welcoming Dr. Tomm-Bonde, the home minister assured her of the government's full support in preventing human trafficking, modernizing border management, building technological capacity, and ensuring safe migration.

The meeting also noted that the validation process for the Integrated Border Management (IBM) Strategy, jointly developed by the Home Ministry and IOM, is in its final stage. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress.

IOM also reaffirmed its commitment to providing technical assistance to Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies, including the Special Branch of Police, to strengthen border security and migration governance.

The discussions further focused on the Home Ministry's lead role in combating human trafficking, with IOM pledging continued policy support, specialized training, research, institutional capacity building, and assistance in mobilizing international funding for anti-trafficking initiatives.

Officials from the Home Ministry and IOM, including Joint Secretary Rebecca Khan and IOM National Consultant (Government) Dr. S.M. Morshed, were present at the meeting.