S M Mizanur Rahman :
At least 79 persons, who are involved in trafficking Bangladesh people to Malaysia have been identified so far, said a report sent to the Home Ministry from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) last month.
Besides Bangladeshi ones, the human traffickers of Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar are also involved in this crime. Cashing in on poverty and unemployment in Bangladesh, traffickers are luring fortune-seekers to Malaysia, the report added.
They get protection and patronage of the crime syndicates which maintain unholy alliances with corrupt officials of police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local influentials, the report said.
Most of identified traffickers however, escape punishment due to absence of evidence. Some of them who land in jails quickly manage to come out due to lack of evidence.
Though the BGB, coastguard and police often arrest the traffickers and rescue the Malaysia bound people the godfathers always remain out of reach.
The PMO has asked the Home Ministry to take stern action against the human traffickers. It also asked Inspector General of Police to prepare a report why the human trafficking to Malaysia could not be stopped.
State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Border Guard Bangladesh intensified their vigilance against illegal trafficking through the sea route.
“As the law enforcers and the border forces were on greater vigilance in recent past, the trend of illegal trafficking nose-dived,” he told The New Nation on Thursday.
Replying to query he said the law enforcers have already started taking action against those who are involved in the human trafficking.
