Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bangladesh visit, the Cabinet on Saturday approved signing of two crucial MoUs with the neighbouring country. While one relates to prevention of human trafficking in particular the rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of trafficked women and children, the other agreement on Coastal Shipping will enhance bilateral trade by facilitating coastal movement of goods between the two countries.
The Government, in an official statement, said that the MoU will strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of human trafficking, especially of women and children and ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organised crime syndicates in both countries.
It will be the responsibility of both nations signing the pact to repatriate victims expeditiously and after repatriation, ensure their “safe and effective reintegration” into their families. “Human trafficking has emerged as a big problem. The MoU is an effort in the direction of preventing trafficking,” said Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
A Task Force comprising members from both countries has laid down the groundwork for coordinated action against individuals, touts and agents involved in human trafficking. The fourth round of meetings of the Task Force was held in Mumbai on April 6-7, 2014.
Talking about the other MoU on Coastal Shipping, Prasad said, “The benefit of this agreement is that freight charges will come down and utilisation of port capabilities between the two countries will improve.”
Bangladesh is India’s largest trade partner in South Asia. The opening up of the coastal route between India and Bangladesh is expected to provide an alternative route for the transportation of Exim cargo between the two countries, an official statement said. The MoU has prescribed River Sea Vessel (RSV) for coastal shipping that has significantly lower construction and operation cost.