They urged the officials of Bangladesh government to raise the issue in the Saarc summit going to be held in New Delhi to combat the trafficking.

The speakers said the issue should be discussed at least on the sidelines of the summit as it is now an international issue.

They also stressed the need for coordinated initiative at regional level as it is not possible to combat trafficking for a country alone.

If a task force is formed, then slowly the flaw in defining the trafficking could be amended, they added.

The press conference was organised by Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) and Action Against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children (ATSEC) in Bangladesh at the National Press Club in the city.

It is the time to implement the Saarc convention which was ratified by all the seven member countries during the last summit in Dhaka, said BNWLA Executive Director and ATSEC Chairperson Advocate Salma Ali.

The convention emphasised the formation of a task force on priority basis, protocol for rescue operation and smooth repatriation system, operation of mutual legal assistance within the member countries and bilateral as well as multi-dimensional dialogues and action plan on standard care and support for the survivors of trafficking.

Still now a huge number of trafficked victims are staying in the jails or shelter homes in abroad while the criminals are at large as the legal process is very complex, the speakers said, adding that any bilateral agreement could be applied easily if the task force is formulated.