A $ 250,000 partnership agreement was signed today to combat human trafficking and smuggling in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Human Concern International (HCI) -- Canada's oldest Muslim relief organisation -- along with Human Concern USA, signed the agreement at the IOM office in Cox's Bazar.

The partnership aims to strengthen prevention and response efforts for vulnerable Rohingya refugees at risk of exploitation. The initiative will build on IOM's long-standing expertise in counter-trafficking in Bangladesh by deploying mobile protection teams to identify trafficking survivors and by strengthening coordination across all 33 camps in the region.

The project will also engage community leaders, volunteers, and youth groups to recognise and report trafficking risks, enhancing community-based protection and resilience.

IOM Bangladesh Chief of Mission Lance Bonneau said that the initiative ensures every refugee has access to consistent protection services through community engagement and capacity building.

"IOM remains committed to working hand-in-hand with the Government of Bangladesh, local authorities, and humanitarian partners to ensure that people at risk of trafficking are protected, supported, and empowered," he said.

"Our faith calls on us to stand against injustice and protect the most vulnerable among us," said HCI Global CEO Mahmuda Khan. "On behalf of our donors, HCI is putting our values of compassion, justice, and dignity into action so that we can ensure the Rohingya refugees are not only protected from exploitation but empowered to build safer and more hopeful futures," she added.

The partnership is funded through HCI's newly established Islamic Philanthropy Fund (IPF), which represents faith-based giving -- including Zakat and Sadaqah -- towards humanitarian initiatives. This collaboration marks a milestone for HCI, placing it among a select group of international organisations partnering with IOM in a faith-driven humanitarian effort.

The initiative complements IOM's ongoing counter-trafficking work in Bangladesh and contributes to broader humanitarian interventions in Sudan, Libya, and Ukraine.