Laura Tomm‑Bonde, newly appointed Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bangladesh, met Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday.
The meeting was held at the home minister’s office in the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Secretariat to discuss strengthening two decades of bilateral partnership with the IOM.
They discussed reinforcing national anti‑trafficking efforts, combating cyber‑enabled human trafficking, and enhancing border management.
At the meeting, Tomm‑Bonde informed the minister that IOM Deputy Director General (DDG) Ugochi Daniel will visit Bangladesh from 1–5 August and invited him to attend a special reception at UN House Bangladesh on 4 August in honor of the DDG’s visit.
However, the minister welcomed the new Chief of Mission and assured full guidance and cooperation from the ministry in preventing human trafficking, modernizing border management, building technological capacity, and ensuring safe migration.
Both sides expressed satisfaction that national validation of the jointly developed “Integrated Border Management (IBM)” strategy is nearing completion. IOM reaffirmed its commitment to provide technical assistance to Bangladesh’s Special Branch of Police and other law enforcement agencies.
The talks also highlighted the ministry’s central role in combating human trafficking and IOM’s technical support. IOM reiterated pledges of policy assistance, specialised training, research, institutional capacity building, and mobilisation of global funds.
This was Tomm‑Bonde’s first bilateral meeting with the Home Ministry since assuming her new role as IOM’s Chief of Mission in Bangladesh.
Joint Secretary Rebecca Khan of the Political‑1 Wing of the Home Ministry and IOM National Consultant (Government) SM Morshed were among those present.
