Take action against human traffickers: JS body
In the wake of death of Bangladeshis in recent boat capsize in the Mediterranean Sea, the relevant parliamentary standing committee on Wednesday suggested the Foreign Ministry to take action against those engaged in human trafficking.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Ministry came up with the recommendation at its 4th meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad with its chairman Muhammad Faruk Khan in the chair, UNB reports.
At the meeting, the committee expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Bangladeshis in the Mediterranean Sea along Tunisia on their way to Europe from Libya.
The parliamentary watchdog asked the Foreign Ministry to identify the syndicates of those engaged in human trafficking and take measures against them.
It also recommended the Bangladesh missions concerned to extend their cooperation to the Bangladeshi victims in the boat capsize.
A boat carrying 70-80 people capsized in the sea some time on the night of May 9.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday released the identities of 39 Bangladeshis who went missing after the boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to reach Europe from Libya.
Fourteen other Bangladesh nationals were rescued alive from the capsized boat.
It also confirmed that 130 of the total 150 migrants on two boats were Bangladeshis. One boat reached safely and another, carrying 70-80 passengers, capsized in the sea.
The parliamentary committee also discussed the plan and preparation of the Foreign Ministry for celebrating the Mujib Year (2020-2021) to mark the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Discussing the manpower crisis at Bangladeshi missions in different countries, the committee recommended quick recruitment of manpower and enhancement of ICT use to overcome the problem.
The parliamentary body also suggested the ministry for taking measures for the committee's visit to the Training Academy of the Foreign Ministry.
Committee members Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Nurul Islam Nahid, Md Abdul Majid Khan, Nahim Razzaq and Nizam Uddin Jalil (John) attended the meeting.
