Capitalising on poor people’s dreams of making life colourful, a number of criminal gangs are committing reckless human trafficking in the name of jobs.

The gangs continue to cheat people by promising them good jobs in different countries. Despite strict laws against human trafficking, the gangs remain undetected. 

Besides, the low conviction rate in trafficking cases is encouraging traffickers to continue such evil acts in the country.

The number of pending human trafficking cases in the country is 3,246. Among them, 517 cases are under investigation. A total of 31,523 people have been accused in these cases. Among them, 14,541 people have been arrested so far, this information has emerged in a report of the Ministry of Home Affairs till March 2023.

Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. People from rural areas become the worst victims as they have minimal survival options.

Generally, rural women and children become the main targets of human traffickers who often take them away from their homes on false promises of a better life and better employment abroad and sell them to brothels.

In this way, a large number of women are falling victim to human trafficking every year. It is considered to be one of the major concerns for the country where it expands at an alarming rate.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs sources, 62 cases were filed in January this year, 61 in February and 77 in March with different police stations of the country. Of them, 44 cases were settled in January, 34 in February and 39 in March. Final reports of 39 cases were given in three months from January to March. Charge sheets were given in 78 cases.

Apart from these, 146 cases were settled in three months from last January to March through court. The accused were sentenced in two cases. Only 13 were sentenced to different terms.

Those involved in the investigation of human trafficking cases said domestic and international syndicates of human trafficking have developed around Bangladesh. Emphasis should be placed on reducing unemployment as a major task of preventing human trafficking.

They believe that effective measures should be taken to prevent human trafficking through agreements with countries where the rate of human trafficking is high. According to RAB data, 836 people from human trafficking gangs were arrested in 417 operations in six years from 2017 to 2022. During the period, 451 cases were filed. In these cases, 310 men, 366 women and seven children were rescued.

Experts said many men and women were tortured even though they migrated abroad hoping to improve their fortunes. Their families are also suffering. So before going abroad, the persons concerned should know about the organisation and then transact.

Information about any organisation that sends workers abroad can be found at the BOESL (Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited), they said.

During the investigation, police officials found out that despite having no manpower export licence, the gangs are active in human trafficking by ensnaring people.

These gangs are extorting huge amounts of money from the unemployed youths with the lure of high-paying jobs, annual bonuses, and good accommodation. Those who fall into their trap and go to different countries are subjected to physical and mental torture.

At one stage, the criminals are demanding ransom from the families of the youths in the country. The members of these gangs are so powerful that even the victims do not want to make any complaints about them.

While investigating the case of human trafficking, the investigative agency has to face a lot of trouble. Those who return from abroad are threatened and they also do not want to open their mouths for this reason.

Legal and Media Wing Director of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Commander Khandaker Al Moin said, “We have brought back many men and women who were victims of torture abroad in the trap of human trafficking. Several groups are involved in this type of human trafficking with the help of local-foreign gangs.”

“The gangs convince poor men and women, alluring them of providing better facilities abroad. Their targets are in rural areas.”

He said, “Whenever we are informed or receive complaints about incidents like human trafficking or torture incidents based on human trafficking, we bring those involved in the incident under the law.”