NSU CLR Hosts “Inaugural Event of the Certificate Course on Law Against Trafficking in Persons & Smuggling of Migrants”. North South University (NSU) Center for Legal Research (NSU CLR), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), organized the inaugural event for the second iteration of the ‘Certificate Course on Law Against Trafficking in Persons & Smuggling of Migrants’ on 26 October 2026 at the Moot Court Room, North South University. Implemented under the initiative ‘Preventing and Addressing Trafficking in Human Beings and the Smuggling of Migrants’, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs and funded by the European Union. The program brought together legal academics, students, and UNODC representatives to discuss criminal justice responses, international legal standards, and human rights protection in Bangladesh and South Asia.
The program commenced with opening remarks from Prof. Ishtiaque Ahmed, Professor of Law and Chair, Department of Law, NSU, followed by an address from Prof. Md. Rizwanul Islam, Professor of Law and Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, NSU. Prof. Ahmed emphasized the vital role of academic institutions in building institutional capacity and advancing preventive frameworks. Highlighting a human rights perspective, he underscored that trafficking in persons (TIP) and the smuggling of migrants (SOM) constitute severe violations of human dignity, necessitating implementable legal mechanisms.
Prof. Md. Rizwanul Islam examined the international law dimensions governing these cross-border offenses. He stressed the indispensable need for robust transnational cooperation, analyzing how current global geopolitical dynamics, regional disparities, and the involvement of various state and non-state actors heavily influence enforcement efficiency and migration governance worldwide.
Guest speakers from the UNODC Regional Office for South Asia delivered key addresses on national and global legal responses. Ms. Tasneem Binta Karim, National Programme Coordinator (TIP & SOM), and Mr. Mahdy Hassan, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer (TIP & SOM), introduced UNODC’s mandate and the Education for Justice (E4J) initiative. They highlighted findings from the First National Study on TIP in Bangladesh, noting how socio-economic factors such as poverty, unemployment, irregular migration, and limited access to justice make young people particularly vulnerable to exploitation. They also underscored the alignment of preventive approaches with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically SDGs 5, 8, 10, and 16.
Following the successful completion of the curriculum by the spring 2026 cohort, this second iteration of the Certificate Course is structured as a 12-week program featuring campus-based intensive three-hour sessions alongside synchronous online lectures delivered by international guest experts. The curriculum bridges theoretical legal frameworks with practical applications, preparing participants to contribute to national and regional policymaking.
The event concluded with an address by the Session Chair, Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor of North South University. Through this initiative, North South University reaffirmed its commitment to advancing legal education, upholding international human rights standards, and fostering partnerships with international organizations to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling.