The human trafficking from Bangladesh has become a matter of serious concern for both the countrymen and the governmental authority. United Nations also showed their concern by releasing a report in this regard.

The report said the maximum incidents of human trafficking occur in Khulna including Sundarban area. Dhaka and Sylhet region follows it in the list. According to UN, the traffickers are using matters like climate change, natural calamities and extreme poverty condition to exploit people. 

In the meeting, the situation of Bangladesh was discussed based on the outcome of the report published from Vienna. The report states according to the information of UN, in Bangladesh, the people of Sundarban region were the worst victim of trafficking.  The crops and resources of this area are damaged due to flood and cyclone in regular interval. 43% people of this area are under poverty line. The human traffickers are exploiting the helpless situation of loan-burdened people of this region. In association with the international criminal gang, the traffickers of the region conduct their crime. When the people in crisis take shelter in Dhaka or Kolkata in search of better life, then they become victim of these opportunistic traffickers.

According to the information of UNHCR, more than 3,000 Rohingya refugees had tried to cross the Bay of Bengal in 2022 and 348 of them died in that attempt. The traffickers use sea-route to send them foreign lands and in that risky travel many Rohungyas died.

According to the report, the women and girl-children are becoming victim to trafficking and the subsequent sexual harassment in and outside the country. They’re becoming target of the traffickers through various online platforms including Tiktok.

The reports also stated about trafficking of human organs by these criminals. The global crisis after Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine war worsen the trafficking incidents.

In the meeting of IOM, in the speech of chief guest, the secretary of public security division Aminul Islam, “Human Trafficking is an inter-border problem. So, there’s no alternative of concerted effort to solve the problem. The organized criminals have changed their work style as now they spread trap using social media. So, it’s necessary to bring in technical change in various process including law and orders to prevent and mitigate human trafficking.

In the discussion, UNODC regional representative, Marco Texeria said, “The human traffickers are using updated technology to conduct their activities. However, we can also detect, investigate the human trafficking cases and put the criminals before trial by using technology successfully.”

IOM head of Bangladesh Abdus Sattar Esoev said, “Bangladesh has achieved mentionable progress in preventing human trafficking by adding UN and civil society in the process.”

The discussion meeting was presided over by Khairul Alam Sheikh, additional secretary of public security department of home ministry, while Join Secretary of home ministry Mizanur Rahman, director general of foreign ministry Toufiq Islam Shatil, officers of UNODC headquarters Emy Kombiye, Adurice Marquez and program coordinator of UNODC Bangladesh Mehedi Hasan also spoke among others on the occasion.

@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on January 27 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque