The government has taken a hard line against human trafficking. As part of this, the law enforcing agencies have started updating the list of human traffickers across the country. They are going to launch countrywide crackdown on identified human traffickers very soon. In the wake of increasing of human trafficking in recent times, the prime minister’s office (PMO) of late sent a letter to the home ministry asking it to take strict measures against human traffickers. Later, the ministry instructed the law enforcing agencies to take appropriate action to this end.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told media that the government has adopted zero tolerance policy on human trafficking. For this reason, initiatives have been undertaken to conduct regular drives and intensify vigilance and patrolling on the border and river routes. Many traffickers have already been arrested, he said, adding they would be brought to book.
According to sources with the law enforcement agencies, a powerful syndicate is engaged in trafficking. This syndicate victimizes unemployed and job-seeking young men and women by alluring them of job in foreign countries. A racket of brokers of this strong syndicate is spread to each district, upazila and even to villages, the sources informed, adding that through these brokers job-seeking youths are made their targets and are offered high-paying jobs abroad.
The brokers then start negotiating with the interested youths to extract money from them in the name of giving them their desired jobs. But, once the victims pay them the settled amount in phases or at a time, the traffickers start lingering the process on various pretexts. They also try to extract more money from the victims and eventually send them abroad via marine routes.
Bangladesh Police headquarters’ Assistant Inspector General (Media and Public Relations) Sohel Rana told Bangladesh Post: “Common people often fall in the trap of these cunning human traffickers. Law enforcers are working to nab the kingpins and their associates. Intelligence agencies are also working relentlessly to catch these criminals.”
Stakeholders concerned are of the opinion that if the authorities fail to rein in the traffickers, then there can be a negative impact on legitimate labour market abroad. In view of this potent threat, the ministries of home affairs, foreign affairs, expatriate welfare and overseas employment have framed a coordinated strategy to prevent trafficking, sources said.
According to sources, people are being regularly trafficked to Europe and Malaysia. Many migration-seekers are losing their lives while travelling through the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Bengal every year being tempted by the traffickers. Recently, 64 Bangladeshi people were caught by the authorities on the coast of Tunisia on their way to Italy via the sea. Besides, 37 Bangladeshis were killed in boat capsize along the same coast while passing through the Mediterranean. 14 people survived. They have been brought back to the country.
Many Bangladeshi people are entering Europe by boats from the Libyan coast through different Middle East countries. Many of them are facing a tragic end to their lives in this dangerous expedition. On the other hand, human trafficking to Malaysia via sea has started again in recent times. This time, the Rohingya are being targeted by the traffickers. Some Bangladeshis are also being sent to Malaysia along with the Rohingyas. Many of them are being captured by the law enforcers in Malaysia, as a result of which the image of Bangladesh is being affected there.
According to sources with expatriate welfare and overseas employment ministry, people involved in human trafficking have kept remaining out of the reach of the law enforcers. After the passing of Human Trafficking Law in 2012, a total 5,716 cases have been filed till June 2018. However, the disposition rate of the cases is very trifling. Victims alleged that most of these cases were not tried.
Moreover, the rate of human trafficking in the name of overseas employment is on the rise. Many women workers are being victimised by the under the shadow of overseas employment. Three and a half years ago, news of hundreds of thousands of people going to Malaysia and Thailand via sea made into the headlines of global media. In 2017, following the mass exodus of Myanmar Rohingyas to Bangladesh triggered the rate of human trafficking.
Rapid Action Battalion’s Legal and Media Wing spokesperson told Bangladesh Post: “The elite force RAB has been working against human traffickers from the beginning its formation. Recently, RAB unearthed that at least 5-6 human trafficking gangs are involved in the trafficking humans to Europe. We also arrested three people who were active members of this chain. And the process is ongoing.”
Since its establishment, the elite force has conducted 209 operations and arrested 609 people for their involvement with human trafficking, he continued, RAB has rescued 814 victims, including 704 men and 110 women.
