It is noticeable that trafficking in Bangladesh has shot up at alarming levels as it is taking place almost on the nose of the law enforcers and other government agencies. There is no need for US State Department to tell about it because we know that powerful quarters are complicit to such crimes. The deteriorating situation just shows the poor law and order condition in the country in which the criminals gangs are operating non-stop.
The report has listed some government efforts to improve the situation during the period under review that include adoption and implementation of rules as provided under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act- 2012. It calls for a national action plan and roadmap on anti-trafficking in 2015-2017 period. But much is being said here than done to clearly suggest that preparation of the rules and the pace of their implementation lack whole hearted commitment and going slow. The government can hardly justify its sincerity in this regard.
The report has sounded highly critical on certain nexus between some government establishments and private manpower agents and other syndicates in this regard. In fact the government is making baseless claim of success when the situation is worsening. The real problem is lack of effective legal mechanism to investigate, prosecute and punish the convicts. The government knows which manpower agencies and individuals are running illegal trade in human slavery but the resistance to stop it is from within powerful government quarters.
The State Department report has been quite critical on China and particularly on massive human rights violation and human trafficking from Myanmar. The situation is also alarming in India and Pakistan in our region. What concerns us most is that human traffickers from Bangladesh are now sending our youths to Europe changing the routes from Malaysia through Thailand. They are using Dubai, Turkey and Libya as transit points.
It is mysterious how they can deceive police and immigration officials at airport. The other point is that a section of police and immigration officials are complicit to the crime. They are not only helping the crime gangs in exchange of money to rob our young people but also destroying their life. It can’t go this way.
In our view the US State Department report has come as a new reminder to us to do more to stop it.
