Bangladesh’s National Referral Mechanism launched in partnership with Justice & Care
October 13, 2025
A National Referral Mechanism (NRM) has been launched for the first time in Bangladesh, following a landmark collaboration between Justice & Care and the Government of Bangladesh.
The new digital platform will manage human trafficking case referrals across the country, streamlining the process from identifying victims to delivering timely, coordinated support services.
It marks a major step forward in Bangladesh efforts to tackle human trafficking, which affects an estimated 1.2 million people across the country.
Our team in Bangladesh created the technology for the NRM on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs, with support from the UK’s Modern Slavery Innovation Fund (MSIF) under the UK Home Office.
It was launched this week at an event attended by Home Affairs Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and British Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director to Bangladesh, James Goldman, following successful pilots in four high-incidence districts.
Bangladesh has long faced challenges in responding to human trafficking, including inconsistent victim identification, non-standardised aftercare and high trafficking rates.
The introduction of the new victim-centred NRM system will help to address these issues and improve case tracking and coordination between agencies.
By integrating the national ID database, passport database and birth certificate database, this will help to ensure that no survivor is forgotten and that referrals are based on verified data.
The platform will also use the victim identification guidelines that Justice & Care previously developed with the Bangladesh Government for effective identification of victims. The guidelines are currently being issued to all law enforcement nationally.
In an address at the launch event, Home Affairs Adviser Mr Jahangir said: ‘At the centre of all our efforts must be the victims—often among the most vulnerable segments of society. Their care, protection, and reintegration are as crucial as bringing perpetrators to justice.’
He added: ‘The Digital NRM has been designed in response to these challenges. It will enhance the effective identification of victims, ensure seamless connection with authorised service providers, maintain service quality, and facilitate monitoring and oversight. This will bring speed, transparency, and accountability to referrals.’
Tariqul Islam, Justice & Care’s Country Director for Bangladesh, said: ‘The launch of the NRM is a meaningful and long-awaited step forward for Bangladesh.
‘It lays the foundation for a more compassionate and effective response – one that puts survivors at the heart of the system.
‘We’re proud to have worked alongside the Government to make this possible and will continue supporting its rollout in the months ahead.’
James Goldman, Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director at the British High Commission, Dhaka, said: ‘I’m honoured to attend the launch of Bangladesh’s Digital National Referral Mechanism, a milestone in the fight against human trafficking, and grateful to the Government of Bangladesh & Justice & Care for championing survivor-led innovation. The UK stands firm against exploitation.’
