Home Ministry launches digital system to streamline repatriation of trafficking victims

The Ministry of Home Affairs today (30 August) has launched a Repatriation Data Management System (RDMS) to make the process of bringing Bangladeshi nationals who fall victim to human trafficking and irregular migration back home faster and more coordinated.

The system was inaugurated at a programme held at Hotel Inter Continental in Dhaka this morning. The event was organised by the Home Ministry in collaboration with Justice and Care Bangladesh, according to a ministry press release.

The ministry said the RDMS is a centralised digital platform that will manage information related to the repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals from abroad. It has already been linked to the National Identity Card (NID) database, while work is underway to integrate it with birth and death registration and passport services.

Additional Secretary (Political and Immigration) Dr Ziauddin Ahmed chaired the programme. Special Branch (SB) chief and Additional Inspector General of Police Sardar Nurul Amin, SB DIG SCO Jahangir Hossain and Australian High Commission Counsellor Ruben Grey attended as special guests.

In his remarks, Dr Ziauddin stressed the importance of bringing the RDMS under the Home Ministry's domain to accelerate efforts to prevent human trafficking and facilitate the reintegration of rescued victims.

He said the system would help maintain comprehensive information on returnees and survivors while improving coordination among government agencies involved in the repatriation process.

Justice and Care Bangladesh Country Director Tariqul Islam highlighted the objectives and benefits of the system. Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry's Political-1 wing Rebeka Khan delivered the welcome address.

The RDMS has been developed by the Home Ministry with technical assistance from Justice and Care Bangladesh, while the Australian government supported its development and upgrading.

Currently, several government agencies are involved in the repatriation process, including nationality verification, police record checks, preparation of documents and communication with authorities in destination countries. Many of these procedures have traditionally relied on paper-based documents and correspondence, often causing delays.

According to a presentation at the programme, the RDMS will enable centralised storage of case information, faster nationality and police record verification and improved coordination among agencies. Authorities will also be able to monitor cases in real time and generate reports through the system.

Bangladeshi missions abroad and other relevant agencies will be able to submit repatriation applications through the platform in a more structured manner. The system will also facilitate information exchange for nationality verification while ensuring the secure storage and management of personal and sensitive data.

The Home Ministry expressed hope that the new system would make the repatriation process faster, safer and more dignified for Bangladeshis returning from abroad.

Representatives from the embassies and high commissions of the United States, India and Thailand, along with officials from the Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Bangladesh Police and other relevant agencies, attended the programme.