They said monitoring mechanism on extradition and formulation of taskforce is also necessary to achieve the objective.

The workshop titled ' From national to regional perspective of human trafficking: Sharing reflection on Saarc Convention' was held at the Brac Inn in the city.

It was jointly organised by Action Against Trafficking and Exploitation of Children (ATSEC), Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA), Uddipan and Incidin Bangladesh.

"The definition of trafficking in the context of Saarc needs to be broadened. There are several articles within the Saarc Convention which needs to be discussed further," said Executive Director of BNWLA Salma Ali while presenting a paper.

Deputy Secretary to home ministry Abdur Rouf stressed the need for specific laws among the Saarc countries to combat trafficking.

In regional perspective a concerted effort of government and non-government organisations is a must for this purpose, he added.

"Along with free flow of information and maintaining a close network, we should focus the vulnerable group, take preventive measures against violence and exploitation and strengthen the civil society," said Director General of foreign affairs ministry Mahbub-Uz-Zaman.

The speakers also stressed the need for women and children friendly mutual legal assistance, rehabilitation and repatriation of the victims, dissemination of trafficking- related information, and coordination mechanism among government's different ministries for initiating comprehensive support service.

Besides, creation of missing persons' databank with link to different South Asian states and establishment of separate cell in Saarc Secretariat for implementation of Saarc Convention on Trafficking is important, they added.

The workshop also discussed the TIP (trafficking in person) Report 2006 prepared by the ATSEC and its activities to combat trafficking.

National Programme Officer of International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Mizanur Rahman, CEDAW Committee member Ferdous Ara Begum, Director General of Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training Abdul Malek and Director of Uddipan Emranul Haque were also present.