The meeting revealed that between June 15, 2004 and September 2006, 488 victims were rescued, 379 traffickers were detained and 444 victims were handed over to their legal guardian.

The rest of the victims are taking shelter in different shelter homes in the country.

Association for Community Development (ACD) organised the meeting at the hall room of Rajshahi Sadharan Granthagar with ATSEC-Bangladesh and IOM.

Falling victim to the alluring job offers by the traffickers, the victims are being trafficked everyday under the nose of law enforcers, the speakers said.

In the meeting journalists and activists of anti-human trafficking organisations pledged to work together to resist human trafficking and oppression on women and children in the region.

The speakers said without united efforts of people from all walks of life, human trafficking and oppression on women and children cannot be eradicated and women emancipation cannot be attained.

'Rajshahi Journalist Forum against Human Trafficking' was also formed in the meeting. Anwarul Alam Fatik and Anisuzzaman were named as convener and member secretary respectively while other 20 journalists of print and electronic media were selected as members.

The function was addressed by ACD director Salima Sarwar, ATSEC official Samina Atik, IOM official Farhana Chowdhury, local daily editor Liakat Ali, journalists Anwarul Alam Fatik, Anisuzzaman, SM Humayun Kabir, Abu Kalam and others.

The anti-human trafficking organisation representatives said journalists can play a vital role for building mass awareness among countrymen in this regard.