Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
In the hope of improving the socio-economic conditions, various skilled and unskilled workers of this country have gone abroad. Money earned has changed their quality of life, working in various countries in the Middle East and Europe for the past few decades, and at the same time strengthening the country’s GDP. By capitalizing on this interest, the human trafficking syndicated group targets the youth of our country and tempts them to migrate abroad illegally for their own interests. Falling into that temptation, our young people are taking risks of their lives to cross the Mediterranean to Europe through Libya. The gang of human traffickers is active on the entire route across the Mediterranean from various countries in Asia and Africa. The state system in Libya has now collapsed. Various armed groups have controlled different parts of the country. In collusion with international human trafficking groups and local brokers, the migrants are being held in various places, tortured and forced to pay ransom. Immigrants are being brutally murdered if they cannot pay the ransom as demanded.
Recently, it was reported that the kidnappers in the Libyan city of Mizda had brutally killed 30 people, including 26 Bangladeshis. Ashraful Islam, a labor councilor in Tripoli, told BBC Bangla that a group of Bangladeshis and Sudanese nationals had been abducted by human traffickers and one of them had been killed. In retaliation, the kidnappers shot and killed them. Eleven people were injured in the incident. They were taken to Jintan Hospital. The statement said 26 of the 30 migrants killed in the shooting were Bangladeshis. The other four are Africans. They were all trying to go to Italy from Libya. For the past few years, Bangladeshis have been reaching Libya with the help of human traffickers, and from there trying to reach Europe by boat across the Mediterranean. Although a large number of Bangladeshis have died due to boat sinking in the sea, this risky trend has not stopped. How Libya became a transit point not only for Bangladeshis, but also for illegal immigrants from many other countries in Asia and Africa. On the other hand, after the lifting of international prohibitions on Libya, many Bangladeshis started going to work in Libya in 2008. That’s when Bangladeshis in Italy started working to take their relatives there, or to take people to Europe for money. It was at this time that they chose Libya as a route.
The level of deception and harassment of people in the name of migrating abroad is increasing day by day. A class of brokers is easily capitalizing on the enthusiasm of the youth to go abroad. Over time, Bangladeshis have had the opportunity to live in different countries of the world. Many of them are taking risks in various ways and making themselves habitable. As soon as he makes a place for himself, he starts preparing to take his friends and relatives from the country. And in this case there are various dangers. They have no travel visa, no job approval order. According to a 2017 survey by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Bangladeshis is among the top five countries whose citizens have tried to cross the Mediterranean for Italy. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Bangladesh is also in the list of states trying to enter Europe through the Mediterranean. The top countries along with Bangladesh are Syria, Nigeria, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Iraq, Algeria, Eritrea and Gambia. The question naturally arises, why are the citizens of Bangladesh crossing the sea like this with the citizens of Africa or war-torn Syria?
Authorities’ indifference to immigration has left millions of immigrants in dire straits. If the authorities are sincere and methodical in their activities, no immigrant in the country would be in trouble. This is not just the case for Bangladesh, it is the same for all countries in the world. However, the immigration process in developed countries is quite transparent. So there is no problem with their immigration. Immigrants in different countries have various problems due to not paying any proper attention to them. Failure to overcome this problem will lead to major disasters in the sector in the future. Illegal immigration must also be stopped to protect immigrants. It is the responsibility of the state concerned to protect not only the citizens of its own country but also all the people leaving be on the borders of a country. In addition, countries that send migrants must also play a role in ensuring the safety of their citizens. Immigration is important for any country. But it is not essential where image is concern for any nation. Migration and refugee crises have intensified around the world. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of homeless and refugees in 2015 alone was 65.3 million. The global refugee crisis has never happened before. Immigration is the routine affair. The immigration crisis is taking place day by day due to various reasons. Immigration aspirants from developing countries like Bangladesh go to Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore illegally every year in the hope of improving their fortunes. They were tortured on their way out of the country illegally. They are dying while crossing the deep forest and sea on the way. Every moment of their journey is spent in extreme uncertainty. Regional cooperation between states is needed to address this crisis.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that punitive action should be taken against those who are going abroad illegally and the brokers. In this way, they are putting their lives in danger and tarnishing the image of the country. Such a trend can be stopped only if the brokers as well as the illegal immigrants are punished in the hope of changing their fortunes. The Prime Minister said employment opportunities are being created in the country now. Besides, the government is creating various opportunities for going abroad. Youths are being given loans without collateral from the Employment Bank to go abroad. The Ministry of Expatriate Welfare is also imparting training to the expatriates, registration is being done, all the facilities have been arranged for those who are willing to go abroad for a job with better salary. Then why are people running in uncertain places? She said they had no idea about the tragic consequences of floating in the sea. Where will they go, what will they do? Bodies are now being found in the forest. It is extremely unfortunate. The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Labor and Employment to take special care to ensure that no one goes abroad illegally in the future.
Human traffickers often take the coverage of body camouflage. How long one can survive by camouflaging or fleeing? It is being speculated that people may have committed such misdeeds from the shelter of a powerful person. Who are the influential people in power? Every relative of an influential or powerful person involved in human trafficking will come under the surveillance of the authorities. Illegal human traffickers and brokers should be arrested in the same manner as drug addicts, terrorists, yabba traders are being caught. In this case, the syndicated group should be brought under the law by conducting operations on the principle of zero tolerance and severe punishment should be given. It is not desirable that a citizen of a state should not be imprisoned or pushed to death by human traffickers in the name of immigration. Many families have become destitute due to human trafficking. Thus the normal course and peace of social life is destroyed. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the government to stop the prolonged anarchy of the illegal human traffickers. So the state cannot in any way avoid the responsibility for the untimely death of innocent immigrants. Let us all fight against human traffickers and brokers, build social awareness and ensure safe migration.
(Dr. Forqan is Former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar VDP)
