Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dipu Moni called for greater focus of the ‘Bali Process’ on enhanced regional cooperation for capacity building of immigration and law enforcement agencies from developing countries to combat human trafficking and related transnational crimes in the Asia-Pacific region.
The foreign minister presented Bangladesh’s country statement at the 4th Bali Process Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia on March 29-30, a foreign ministry press statement said on Wednesday.
The Foreign Ministers and Security, Home and Immigration Ministers and senior officials from 42 Asia-Pacific countries attended the meeting to adopt a Regional Framework for Cooperation on Trafficking.
Dipu Moni briefed the conference on a series of domestic legislations and international conventions being considered by the Bangladesh government to prevent human trafficking and illegal migration and transnational crimes including the “Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act 2011’, ‘Child Pornography Act 2011’ and the Palermo Convention on Transnational Organized Crimes.
Bangladesh has been a member of the Bali Process since 2002. Dipu Moni highlighted at the conference the security and socio-economic repercussions of the longstanding issue of the Myanmar refugees and undocumented Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh.
She said Bangladesh expects to resolve this issue through dialogue and mutual cooperation with Myanmar and also sought everyone’s support in resolving this longstanding problem.
During her stay in Bali the foreign minister held a number of bilateral meetings including with Foreign Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd and Foreign Minister of Indonesia Dr. Marty Natalegawa.
Director General of IOM Ambassador William Swing and Assistant High Commissioner for Refugee Ms Erika Feller called on her.
The foreign minister is leading a four member delegation at the Bali Conference which includes Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar, Bangladesh Ambassador to Indonesia Golam Mohammad and Director General (UN) of the Foreign Ministry Ms. Saida Muna Tsaneem.
BBN/SSR/SI-31Mar11-1:02 am (BST)
