Home, IOM discuss trafficking, border cooperation
Both sides discuss 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
ATT Desk Report 
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, modernising border management and promoting safe migration.
The meeting, held at the Home Ministry at the Bangladesh Secretariat on 28 July, marked the first bilateral engagement between the ministry and Dr Tomm-Bonde since she assumed her new role in Bangladesh, according to a ministry press release.
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 organisation's Deputy Director General, Ugochi Daniel, will visit Bangladesh from 1 to 5 August. She invited the minister to attend a special reception in his honour at the UN House in Dhaka on 4 August.
Welcoming Dr Tomm-Bonde, the home minister assured her of the government's full support in preventing human trafficking, modernising 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 with 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 also focused on the Home Ministry's leading role in combating human trafficking, with IOM pledging continued policy support, specialised training, research, institutional capacity-building and assistance in mobilising international funding for anti-trafficking initiatives.
Officials from the Home Ministry and IOM, including Joint Secretary Rebecca Khan and IOM National Consultant (Government) Dr SM Morshed, were present at the meeting.
