News Details

Students from the Department of Law at East West University attended the Launch and Dissemination of the Regional Report, Trafficked to Scam: South Asian Responses to Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Forced Criminality in Scam Operations, organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The event was held on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, in the Crystal Ballroom of the InterContinental Dhaka.

The launch was organized under UNODC’s regional project, “Preventing and Addressing Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of Migrants in South Asia” (2024–2027), funded by the European Union (EU). The event aimed to present the report’s methodology, key findings, and recommendations and enhance understanding of trafficking linked to cyber-scam operations with the participation of senior government officials, law enforcement chiefs, United Nations representatives, academics, students and the media.

Ms. Nadia Rahaman, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Law and Assistant Proctor at East West University, attended the event accompanied by seven students namely, Raisa Zarin Dia, Ramisha Nujhat, Afrin Ali Jyoti, Mahidul Hasan, Turna Sarwar Jessica, Khalid Bin Masud Saikat, and Jalish Mahmud Saikat.

Mr. Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, formally launched the report as the Chief Guest and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to stronger reporting systems, mutual legal assistance, and regional cooperation. Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, chaired the event. Ms. Rebeka Khan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, delivered remarks, followed by Dr. Michal Krejza, Head of Development Cooperation, EU Delegation to Bangladesh, Mr. Kristian Hölge, Regional Representative, South Asia, UNODC, Mr. Rezaul Karim, Additional IGP and Chief of the Special Response Unit, Barrister Mosharraf Hossain, Additional IGP and Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department, Ms. Carol Flore-Smereczniak, UN Resident Coordinator, and Ms. Jee Aei Lee, Deputy Project Coordinator & Legal and Policy Officer, UNODC HQ, presented the report’s methodology, key findings, and recommendations. The event concluded with a vote of Thanks by Mr. Mahdy Hassan, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, UNODC.