DHAKA, April 16, 2025 (BSS) - In a strategic move to strengthen cross-border cooperation and enhance national capacity in tackling transnational organized crimes such as human trafficking and migrant smuggling, the home ministry launched a specialized workshop on "Mutual Legal Assistance for Criminal Matters to support parallel financial investigations and prosecutions into Trafficking in Persons" in Cox's Bazar on Tuesday.

This initiative is funded by the European Union (EU) under the regional project "Preventing and Addressing Trafficking in Human Beings and the Smuggling of Migrants in South Asia", implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said a home ministry press release issued today.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Nasimul Ghani, Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry, said, "Creating a robust institutional response and enabling effective MLA frameworks are essential for dismantling criminal networks and recovering illicit assets. Bangladesh remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice through international legal cooperation," 

The three-day workshop aims to establish a national pool of MLA experts to strengthen international cooperation, specifically targeting financial investigations and prosecutions related to Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM).

This high-level training brings together 25 senior officials from across criminal justice, law enforcement, foreign affairs, and financial intelligence sectors, marking a significant advancement in developing robust institutional mechanisms for mutual legal assistance and asset recovery.

The international cooperation through MLA is guided by fundamental principles that ensure both effective prosecution of perpetrators and protection of victims' rights. 

Bangladesh's active engagement in bilateral and multilateral forums focused on strengthening international cooperation frameworks demonstrates its commitment to combating these serious crimes.

"This workshop is an important step in strengthening Bangladesh's technical and operational capacity to uphold justice and protect the vulnerable," said Dr. Suruchi Pant, Deputy Representative for South Asia for UNODC.
The EU-funded project covers five South Asian countries-Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka-and addresses cross-border cooperation challenges across the region, including India. 

It aims to enhance the legal and operational framework for MLA, financial investigations, and victim protection.

The workshop reflects the European Union's continued commitment to supporting Bangladesh in building effective, rights-based responses to transnational organized crime, with a focus on international judicial cooperation, financial transparency, and victim-centered justice.