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Human Trafficking scenario in Bangladesh:

An inclusive observation

Ali Ahmad

Published: July 2015


Ali Ahmad
Undergraduate Student
Department of Political Studies
Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet-3114
ali.bd.sust AT gmail DOT com

Sylhet, Bangladesh
July 2015

Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet-3114

Human Trafficking scenario in


Bangladesh: An inclusive observation
Ali Ahmad
July 2015

Introduction
The trafficking of persons, particularly women and children, for forced and exploitative labor,
including for sexual exploitation is one of the most egregious violation of human rights which
the United Nations now confronts.
- Kofi Annan, Ex- Secretary General of United Nations
Bangladesh acts as an imperative source and transit country for trafficking in persons in Southern
Asia. The focal domain of human trafficking is forced labor. Trafficking sufferers of Bangladesh
is composed of men, women and children. Men signed up by fake employment offers for work
abroad comprise of a considerable share of Bangladesh's trafficking victims who are afterward
exploited under conditions of forced labor. The core dynamics of human trafficking have led to
the formulation of numerous international and regional legal. Bangladesh government has taken
administrative steps to cope with human trafficking, mainly trafficking in women and children.
Consequently, the aim of this paper is to identify the overall situation of trafficking in persons in
Bangladesh with the governments initiatives and developments on this issue. The current paper
depicts the current situation of trafficking in persons in Bangladesh, the challenges, problems,
government initiatives and country success. The current paper ends with recommendations to the
government of probable solutions. According to Article 3 of the UN Protocol to Prevent,
Suppress and penalize Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing
the UN Convention Against Transnational planned Crime. Trafficking in persons denotes: the
employment, transportation, relocate, harboring or receiving of persons, by means of the threat
or use of force or other shapes of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of cheating, of the abuse of
power or of a position of Trafficking in women and children is today a major social and political
concern globally as well as nationally. It has also become the rapid growing criminal venture in
the world. An approximated 1-2 million women and children are trafficked annually around the
world, normally for the intention of forced labor, commercial sexual abuse or home servitude. A
United Nations (UN) estimates conducted in 1999 point out that the fastest growing international
business is trafficking in women and children (UNIFEM).

Rationale of the Study


In recent times, human trafficking is a far and wide talked issue nationally and internationally.
Numerous actions have been taken at national, regional and international levels to prevent and
combat trafficking in persons particularly women and children. In Bangladesh, Government and
Non-government organizations are playing wholesale role in prevention of human trafficking
and there is no defying the fact that NGOs are the real grass root level actors in prevention of
trafficking. NGO involvement is being underlined by organizations like World Bank, ADB,
UNICEF and a reasonable amount of donation is being allowed to and spent through NGOs
directly; though actual outcome is neither noticeable nor suitable. This motivates me to do this
research. Until now works made on women and children trafficking focused on issues like
concept of trafficking, reasons and consequences of trafficking, contributions of government
organizations in combating trafficking and so on. There is no special attempt has been taken to
identify causes of human trafficking and taken any valuable measures to prevent the human
trafficking in Bangladesh.
In addition, this study is just an enterprise which will encourage future researcher to carry out
further extensive research in this field.
Objective of the Research
Some issues have been taken into account to carry out to research. These are stated below:
To be acquainted with the facts of human trafficking.
To make out specific prevention measures
Creating awareness of human trafficking by sharing what you learn with all women,
especially those who are vulnerable to being trafficked.
To find out factors those are contributing to or affecting negatively effectiveness of these
measures.

Reflection from Literature


There have been a lot of efforts worldwide to identify and recognize human trafficking as a
crime of heinous nature. It is stamped as one of the grievous crimes against humanity in
Bangladesh also. Several studies have been conducted so far to comprehend the issue. As a
background study of this research, relevant books, reports and publications of different
organizations in the area of trafficking, published case studies on trafficking and relevant many
other issues from journals, newsletters, booklets, internet reports and newspaper clippings are
reviewed. Information is extracted from various sources to make a comprehensive understanding
of the issue.

Koettl (2009) did a study on trafficking and development, it shows that exploitation matters to
development because of its adverse effects on efficiency and equity; it seems clear that
exploitation is a cause for poverty and therefore is an obstacle to development.
Siddiqui, Rozana and others (2006) jointly conducted a research on W&C trafficking in
Bangladesh. It shows that trafficking is tapped in confusion. There is confusion regarding static,
legal framework and other aspects of trafficking. It gives a detail list of NGOs anti-trafficking
programs and points out that there is lack of coordination and communication among NGOs; as a
result some traffic prone areas are overlooked or some areas are over-burdened with similar
programs but there is no comment on those programs success or failure in the research.
Osmany (2007) in his study says, at present human security is a great concern and human
trafficking is identified as the most alarming threat to human security. He says, Interestingly,
the issue of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, illustrates how a
nontraditional security issue can be a threat to both the state and its people.
UNICEF (2008) study on child trafficking in South Asia shows the pattern of child trafficking in
South Asia and gives a regional analysis of legal framework, policy responses of governments
and civil societies. In a small portion of the study, prevention is highlighted. Preventive
programs should investigate the social, cultural and economic conditions of the targeted people
and Identify vulnerable groups who are particularly at risk- the study emphasizes on; but the
study does not specify preventive actions taken so far nor does it give any assessment

Operational Definitions:
Trafficking
Trafficking in person a subset of migration is the movement of a person in a situation of deceit,
force, threat, debt, bondage etc involving exploitation and violation of human rights
(Sanlaap,DAM,ACD:20006).
Trafficking has also been defined in the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating
Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution (2002) which is very important for
Bangladesh as a SAARC country. It states:
Trafficking means the moving, selling or buying of women and children for prostitution within
and outside a country for monetary or other considerations with or without consent of the person
subjected to trafficking and Persons Subjected to Trafficking means women and children
victimized or forced into prostitution by the traffickers by deception, threat, coercion,
kidnapping, sale, fraudulent marriage, child marriage, or any other unlawful means.
Trafficking is a large-scale criminal enterprise. It is a multifaceted development issue.
It is an economic problem as the vast majority of women seeking to break away from
poverty are lured into trafficking by the false promise of economic gains. Trafficking is

a health problem as trafficked women and children are at the risk of HIV infection.
It is a gender problem, as unequal power relations reinforce womens secondary status
in the society. Lastly it is a legal problem, as its victims are stripped of their human rights
and lack any access to redress the crimes committed against them.
Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking should be viewed in the context of a wide range of actions and outcomes that
involve several stages ranging from the organization of the supply of people vulnerable to
exploitation and harm, the process of movement to the demand for the service or labour of
trafficked person.4 For traffickers, the process is a systematic, well-organized economic
phenomenon, involving the displacement and movement of persons solely to profit directly or
indirectly from the exploitation of the trafficked persons labor.5 Many definitions have been
offered to articulate the human trafficking problem. The UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and
Punish Trafficking in Persons defines trafficking as follows:
Trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or
receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of
abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the
giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control
over another person for the purpose of exploitation.
Methodology
To accomplish a research, a researcher follows a specific method. Same case happened to me. To
perform the aforementioned research I have followed Qualitative method. Descriptive and
explanatory methods have also been applied here. Furthermore, I sought upper limit data from
secondary source, as there have been the constraints of primary data.
Perspective of the Study
Please dont leave us, we are hungry. Otherwise we will die soon for the short of food.(Daily
Prothom Alo,May 172015). This plea has been uttered by an immigrant of Bangladesh who
surpasses a merciless life in a Boat nearing to Indonesia. Before facing this situation he dreamt at
changing his life motivated by human traffickers of Bangladesh. Trafficking becomes a
transcontinental issue now and gains everyones conscience. Trafficking is an issue of global
concern presently and South Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions for trafficking because of
its large population, majority living in conditions of chronic poverty and recurrent natural
disasters. Moreover, Bangladesh along with Nepal is identified as source country for women and
children subjected to trafficking in person in South Asia. U.S. State Department estimate that
between 1 to 2 million people are trafficked each year worldwide with the majority originating in
Asia (over 1,50,000 from South Asia and 2,25,000 from South East Asia).The UN assesses that

globally at least 4 million persons are trafficked and large part of it is Women and Children.
Most recent reports say that, in recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of
women and children trafficked. In 2006, a UNODC report on Global Pattern of Trafficking in
Person categorized nine countries as high in rank of trafficking and Bangladesh is one of them.
In Trafficking in Person report, 2010 by US Department of State Bangladesh is placed on Tier-2
Watch List for the second consecutive year.
Human Trafficking scenario in Bangladesh
Trafficking in persons is illegal, and it is difficult to find reliable estimates of the size of the
problem. However, various reports, such as Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports, TIP
Reports of the U.S.
State Department, Bangladeshs Country Reports, etc., reveal that it is a large and growing crime
globally as well as in Bangladesh. According to the 2012 TIP Report of the U.S. State
Department Bangladesh does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination
of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In February 2012, the
government of Bangladesh enacted a comprehensive anti-trafficking law which addressed
legislative gaps such as the absence of a prohibition on the trafficking of men. The government
also approved a new anti-trafficking action plan (2012-2014) which incorporated necessary steps
to implement the new law. The number of prosecutions increased, but the number of convictions
declined as compared to previous year. In terms of modus operandi, there are two types of
trafficking in persons that occur in Bangladesh: internal trafficking and international trafficking.
Internal Trafficking:
Bangladeshi children and adults are trafficked internally for commercial sexual exploitation,
domestic servitude, and forced and bonded labour, including forced begging. In some instances,
children are sold into bondage by their parents, while others are induced into labour or
commercial sexual exploitation through fraud and physical coercion. Girls and boys as young as
eight years old are subjected to forced prostitution within the country, living in slave-like
conditions in secluded environments. Trafficking occurs throughout the country, and the
vulnerable poor are trafficked from poorer rural regions to cities.
International Trafficking:
Internationally, women and children from Bangladesh are trafficked to India and Pakistan for
commercial sexual exploitation or forced labour. Some Rohingyan refugees from Burma have
been subjected to human trafficking in Bangladesh. Many brothel owners and pimps coerce
Bangladeshi girls to take steroids to make them more attractive to clients, with devastating side
effects; the drug is reported to be used by 90 percent of girls and women between the ages of 15
and 35 in Bangladeshi brothels. In 2012, nine South African labour-trafficking victims were
found in Bangladesh
Reasons behind Human Trafficking

The issue of trafficking is integrally associated to the insecurity of livelihoods as well as to the
continuing disparities and discrimination against marginalized communities normally, and
against women in particular.
Countless trafficked persons are lured and deceived by false promises of good jobs or marriage,
and some are bought, abducted, kidnapped, coerced, threatened with force or placed in debt
bondage. Some of these women and children are trafficked with the tacit assent of their povertystricken families (NPA 2008). Bangladesh is one of the key sources of labor of the world with a
surplus population. It has enormous possibility to become the top foreign currency earner by
sending skilled migrant workers abroad. But unfortunately there are rackets working to traffic
men and women both inside and outside the country by exploiting them in the name of providing
jobs either with legal or illegal documents. Unsafe and undocumented migration leads to
trafficking. In recent times, many Bangladeshi potential male and female migrants suffered
within the country before going aboard, and many also faced adverse situations abroad. In the
regional and international arenas, groups of persons are working in the migration sector to earn
more money at any cost without considering the exploitation of the migrant workers. The major
underpinnings of these problems are as follows:
Overpopulation
Bangladesh is overwhelmed with its large population. This population burden has
exposed a large segment of the citizenry to the vulnerabilities of trafficking in persons.
Demand for cheap labor
Worldwide demand for cheap labour targets the Bangladeshi people and very often jeopardizes
them as trafficking victims.
Lack of opportunity and resources
Poverty exists in every part of social and economic life of the majority of the Bangladeshi
population. Combining a large population with a weak economic base makes the resource base
scarce and bottlenecks opportunities for people to lead happy lives. These discontentment lead
the people into vulnerability and towards becoming victims of trafficking in persons.
Lack of awareness
Lack of proper education easily escorts the people towards hazardous lifestyles, which ultimately
ends up with the dejected outcome of human trafficking. Lack of education also prevents the
development of an awareness of human rights and causes fatal consequences.
Sexual services
Augmented demand for sexual services around the globe, as well as within the country, makes
young girls and boys vulnerable to being trafficked. Burdened with the problems of poverty and

lack of education, Bangladeshi women and children are very vulnerable to the brutality of sex
trafficking.
Lack of control over recruiting agencies
There are more than 1,000 recruiting agencies belonging to the Bangladesh Association of
International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA). These agencies are permitted legally to charge
workers recruitment fees that are the equivalent of a years salary, but these recruiting agencies
often charge additional amounts in contravention of government regulations. These exorbitant
fees place migrant workers in a condition of debt bondage, in which they are compelled to work
out of fear of otherwise incurring serious financial harm. Many Bangladeshi migrant labourers
are victims of recruitment fraud, including additional and illegal exorbitant recruitment fees
often accompanied by fraudulent representation of terms of employment. These victims may also
experience restrictions on their movements, nonpayment of wages, threats, and physical or
sexual abuse.

Trafficking: Pull factors and Puss factors


History of trafficking suggests that poor women and children are the key target group of
trafficking, because of their marginalization, limited economic resources and predominance in
the invisible informal sector. The major portion of trafficked women and girls are those who
are unmarried, divorced, separated or widowed. The ethnic minorities, scheduled castes or
other backward classes indigenous people, hill tribes, refugees, and illegal migrants also falls
prey to the human traffickers around the world (UNIFEM).
Human trafficking is influenced by two factors, namely, Pull factors and Puss factors. Pull
factors indicate the demand side and the Puss factors indicate the supply side of the whole
business in human trafficking.
Pull factors include the following:
Development policies and patterns of development promoting tourism, industrialization, rural
to urban migration particularly of males, generate the demand for commercial sex;
An expanding commercial sex industry in the Asia region has increased the demand for the
services of sex workers. Male clients preferences are for younger women and virgin girls
because of the fear of HIV infection;
Demand by employers and enterprises for cheap labor of children and women. Womens labor
is often considered as low status work such as in the domestic and entertainment spheres; and

Male attitudes and perceptions of women, male dominated value systems in society, and
womens unequal and low socioeconomic status maintains demands (UNIFEM).
On the other hand, supply factors include the following:
Poverty and deprivation, coupled with the low status of women and girls in society, are key
push factors; inadequate educational and employment opportunities, gender disparities in access
to opportunities, and lack of social safety nets;
A lucrative business with low investments but high monetary returns is attractive to crime
syndicates, facilitators, and even brings some financial gains to families;
Economic disparities within countries and between countries and regions fuels the demand for
trafficking from low income to high income areas;
Globalization and liberalization have relaxed controls, opened borders between countries,
facilitating population mobility;
Internal and international migration of women into the labour market, provides increased
opportunities and channels for trafficking;
Traditional and religious practices in some countries (in some south Asian countries) of
dedicating girls to gods and goddesses, and social acceptance of prostitution encourages the
trade. A sense of gratitude or repayment of debt by children to parents as in some societies,
compels many young women and girls into the sex industry;
social conventions such as child marriages, polygamy, dowry, and social stigma against single,
unwed, divorced women and girls, and those sexually abused, are important contributing factors;
Erosion of traditional family systems and values, and the pursuit of consumerism encourages
the sale of women and children;
The growth of transnational crime and the expansion of drug trafficking networks act as
mechanisms for other forms of exploitation;
lack of a strong political will, and weak law enforcement mechanisms and measures to penalize
offenders, exploitation by corrupt law enforcers and officials, allows the trafficking trade to
flourish;
Export of labour is a strategic response of governments in the current economic crisis in Asia,
and hence exacerbate trafficking; and

Natural disasters also facilitate the problem of trafficking (UNIFEM).


Harmful Effects of Trafficking
The harmful effects of trafficking in women and children include:
1. Health: Women and Girls risk unwanted pregnancies, maternal mortality, sexually
transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.
2. Drugs and other addictions resulting in physical and mental deterioration.
3. Threat to emotional well-being: Constant fear of arrests, isolation, deprivation of family life
and social support systems; humiliation and abuse result in serious emotional stress and
psychological consequences.
4. Threat to physical safety by unscrupulous agents, police, custom officials, employers and
others.
5. Apprehension by law enforcement agents, detention, prosecution and forced deportation.
6. Difficulties in social integration; for those returning to their communities.
7. Economic slavery. Women have to pay the money, which the traffickers demand for their
travel and documentation.
Trafficking in persons has major economic, physical, psychological emotional and health
consequences to the victims.
The health characteristics of a trafficked victim include: Malnutrition, dehydration or poor personal hygiene;
Brutal conditions that result in physical breakdowns, emotional abuse and pelvic
inflammatory diseases;
Sexually transmitted infections;
Verbal or psychological abuse designed to intimidate, degrade and frighten the individual;
Signs of rape or sexual abuse;
Bruises, broken bones, or other signs of untreated medical problems;
Post traumatic stress psychological disorders;
Critical illness including diabetes, cancer or heart disease;
HIV/AIDS is a significant problem that is closely related to trafficking, as many trafficked
women and girls suffer rape and forced unprotected sex and thus are vulnerable to HIV.

Governments Enterprise to deal with Human Trafficking


Bangladesh has taken the crisis of human trafficking seriously. The Constitution of Bangladesh
permits the establishment of a society founded on the rule of law, justice, and the respect for
human dignity and the worth of all persons. The Constitution bans forced and bonded labor
(Article 34), impose a responsibility on the state to prevent and suppress the prostitution of
human beings, and guarantees a number of fundamental human rights (Articles 27-44).
The government of Bangladesh has been executing a series of activities to combat trafficking. As
a result of the effectiveness of all committees and the motivational, preventive and awarenessbuilding activities against human trafficking, Bangladesh has attained commendable success in
combating trafficking
in the years 2008-11 successes which are indeed based on earlier successes. A major antitrafficking enterprise by the government is the drafting of the new anti-trafficking statute, which
has recently culminated in the enactment of the Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression
Ordinance of 2011, an overview of which follows below. Before that, the Government enacted
the Domestic Violence (Protection and Prevention) Act of 2010 to address the problem of
violence against women. Notably on 13 July 2011 the government has in the meantime ratified
the UN Convention against worldwide Organized Crime of 2000. Bangladesh has also recently
ratified another ancillary international instrument, namely, the UN Convention on the Protection
of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, 1990.
Ratification of this Convention is sure to have an affirmative impact on Bangladeshs attempts to
check and combat human trafficking. Further, the process for the ratification of the most notable
anti-trafficking instrument, the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in
Persons 2000 (Palermo Protocol) is currently underway. The government has also taken up three
major national polices the Policy for the Advancement of Women of 2011, the Child Labour
Elimination Policy of 2010 and the Child Rights
Policy of 2011 all of which will have strong impacts on anti-trafficking measures generally.
Specially, the Womens Policy of 2011 and the Child Rights Policy of 2011 categorically spell
out the governments commitment to eradicate trafficking in women and children.
Other noteworthy anti-trafficking initiatives and achievements of the government and other
implementing
Partners are:
Introduction to National and District Committees
Anti-trafficking activities in Bangladesh have received a major boost with the formation of an
inter-ministerial committee at the national level headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Home
Affairs (MoHA) and committees in each District headed by Deputy Commissioners to monitor
matters at district levels. Also, there are anti-trafficking committees at the upazilla (sub-districts)
and Union levels.

Introduction to Monitoring Cells


Another major device was the setting up of a monitoring cell at the Police Headquarters (and in
each to monitor anti-trafficking actions, specifically the prosecution of human trafficking.
Initially, the Cell focused on trafficking in women and children, and now its terms of reference
include measures against all forms of human trafficking, including the prevention of trafficking,
rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked persons and day to day development of the criminal cases
related to human trafficking.
Nonstop Awareness-Raising Program
The Government of Bangladesh has supported awareness-raising activities at national and
district levels and a series of specialist trainings imparted to government officials, police
officials, lawyers, judges, social service officials, and public prosecutors.
Formation of Taskforce for Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Integration:
A Taskforce for the rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of children and women
victims of trafficking has been established at the MoHA. The initial mandate of the taskforce to
work for the rescue, recovery, repatriation, and integration of child victims of trafficking has
been extended to cover victims of all types of human trafficking.
.
Reporting Trafficking condition Annually
Every year, a country report is prepared and published by the MoHA, which details actions by
the governmental, non-governmental and intergovernmental implementing organizations on the
prevention of human trafficking and the protection of its victims, including the successes made
so far.
Vigilant Task Force at the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment:
This Taskforce was established to monitor the activities of recruiting agencies so that
irregular/fraudulent recruiting for overseas employment may be stopped. This institutional
device is expected to check and reduce human trafficking for labor under the garb of migration.

Official Reforms
Several efforts for the reform of the legal framework are currently underway. The Ministry of
Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment is currently revising the Emigration Ordinance
1982 to make it more effective against fraudulent and criminal recruitment of people for the
purpose of labor. MoHA is also currently working to revise the laws relating to immigration into
Bangladesh. These legal interventions are expected to further consolidate the legal tools
available in the fight against trafficking.

Bilateral Agreements
Bangladesh has recently entered into Agreements with India with a view to providing mutual
legal assistance in criminal matters and to combat organized crime and trafficking in drugs.
Specifically, the government of Bangladesh has concluded the following agreements with India:
1. The Agreement for Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters;
2. Agreement Between the Government of Bangladesh and the Government of India for
Combating Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crimes, and Illegal Drug Trafficking;
and
3. Agreement for the Transfer of Sentenced Persons
Needless to say, human trafficking is one of the most heinous types of organized crime, and
therefore these pacts particularly the first two pacts will facilitate cooperation between
Bangladesh and India for combating human trafficking.
International Agencies engaged in Combating Human Trafficking
Various international agencies and inter-governmental organisations which are actively engaged
in counter trafficking activities of women, girls and children who constitute the vulnerable group
include the: International Office of Migration (IOM) Geneva,
United Nations Inter Regional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) Rome,
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Vienna,

Recommendations
Bangladesh has made significant improvements in dealing with trafficking in persons. The
current study recommends that the government of Bangladesh:
Determination and implementation of anti-trafficking policies: Governments and
NGOs should more systematically partner with each other in order to ensure that civil
society is actively involved in all aspects of the determination and implementation of
anti-trafficking policies, including national action plans, regulations, and laws. As part of
this partnership, the volume and quality of information shared between the Government
agencies, ranging from central to grass-roots/local levels, international organizations and
NGOs should increase.
Strengthen Civil society organizations : Government should broaden their antitrafficking partnership to include other civil society organizations, such as those from
organized labor, faith-based organizations, migrant communities, and the international
and national business community. Work on anti-trafficking initiatives with these new

allies should occur in a systematic manner to bring forward new knowledge and
resources from these partners, and seek support from them for policies and programs to
combat human trafficking.

Positive role of NGOs: Information on the positive role of NGOs in cooperating with
Governments on anti-trafficking efforts, and the need to have NGOs involved in order to
ensure comprehensive anti-trafficking response, should be reflected in all training
curriculums at all levels.
Technical assistance of multilateral donor agencies: Both bilateral and multilateral
donor agencies should take decisions on funding of technical assistance and capacity
building with particular attention to the need to further strengthen government and civil
society cooperation, and to do so in a more coordinated manner.
Greater coordination both at the national and regional level: Greater donor
coordination, including prioritizing both at the national and regional levels, would
enhance and facilitate the process of preventing and combating human trafficking.

Introduction to anti-trafficking project: Government and NGOs recognize the


importance of monitoring anti-trafficking projects to ensure accountability, and
continuously evaluating impact of those activities, but also recognize that donor agencies
should provide longer term commitments to anti-trafficking work being done. Possible
approaches could include the development of innovative monitoring modalities, such as
regional peer review mechanisms, between and among Governments, NGOs, civil
society, international NGOs, and inter-governmental organizations with an emphasis on
long-term commitment, and should stress the positive role that NGOs can play in
monitoring process and progress.
Criminal justice actions: Governments and NGOs recommend that the success of
criminal justice actions against human trafficking offenders should be measured
according to both the quality of investigations and prosecutions and their quantity.
Public-private partnerships to deal with Human Trafficking: Donors should
encourage and support public-private partnerships as a new approach to generate new
ideas and additional resources for anti-human trafficking work.
Prosecute traffickers and support the recovery of victims: prosecute traffickers and
support the recovery of victims Civil society organizations, including NGOs, and law

enforcement authorities should exchange experience and information, as appropriate,


build deeper mutual understanding, and reach shared objectives to prosecute traffickers
and support the recovery of victims of trafficking; and bilateral and multilateral donors
should support such opportunities.
Stronger cross-border collaboration: Stronger cross-border collaboration in all
aspects of anti-trafficking response, and technical, financial and personnel support for
those initiatives, should be built among governments and NGOs.
Encourage governments to initiate pilot projects: Where cross-border collaboration
and coordination does occur, it is critical that this be broadened to embrace the concept of
multi-disciplinary teams that include NGOs, and encourage governments to initiate pilot
projects in identified trafficking hot spots on borders.
Extend existing cross-border mechanisms: Governments and civil society actors should
consider to either extend existing cross-border mechanisms, or to create similar mechanisms,
to address human trafficking.
Regional agreements: Regional agreements on procedures for cooperation in human
trafficking should be developed, taking into account agreements already available at the
bilateral level.
To response the issue Promptly: Governments and NGOs understand the urgent need to
deepen anti-trafficking response, and ensure that policies and implementation reach to the
provincial and local level.
Improve the standards of the shelters: Governments and NGOs should collaborate to
build capacity of concerned governments officials and NGO staff working to provide
protection and recovery services to victims, and improve the standards of the shelters and the
services they provide.
Arranging workshops to create awareness: Workshops should be convened to clarify the
roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders in anti-trafficking actions. Possible
results could include the establishment of a multi-disciplinary operations team at the national
level to oversee actions on cases of trafficked persons. This team can direct the process of
assistance and protection to the victim, and the victims participation in the criminal justice
investigation and prosecution process. As part of this process, the roles and scope of NGOs
could be more clearly defined, which would in turn help facilitate their operations, and
monitoring and evaluation systems be established.

Promote safe migration : Governments and NGOs in places of migrants origin, transit and
destination should promote safe migration as a strategy to reduce vulnerability to human
trafficking
Limitation of the study
To carry out the study I have faced a number of limitations.
For instance Several adverse situations has been confronted owing to lack of skill, knowledge and
experience.
I faced big challenge of necessary and relevant books, journals and written documents in
various libraries.
Maximum data has been adapted from secondary source

Concluding Remarks
Human trafficking has become so entrenched the world over that it has become necessary for
everybody including governments, development partners, donor agencies, civil society
organizations, private sector, individuals, traditional leaders, community leaders, religious
leaders and other stakeholders to join hands and pool resources and experience together to
combat the hydra headed problem

Trafficking in persons is illegal, and it is difficult to find reliable estimates of the size of the
problem. However, various reports, such as Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports, TIP
Reports of the U.S. State Department, Bangladeshs Country Reports, etc., reveal that it is a large
and growing crime globally as well as in Bangladesh. According to the 2012 TIP Report of the
U.S. State Department, Bangladesh does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the
elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In February 2012,
the government of Bangladesh enacted a comprehensive anti-trafficking law which addressed
legislative gaps such as the absence of a prohibition on the trafficking of men. The government
also approved a new anti-trafficking action plan (2012-2014) which incorporated necessary steps
to implement the new law. The number of prosecutions increased, but the number of convictions
declined as compared to previous years.

Work Cited:
Centre for Women and Children Studies (CWCS), (1997), Proceedings of the Fact-finding
Meeting and the National Workshop on Trafficking in Women and Children, 23-25 May, 1997,
Dhaka.
Shamim, Ishrat (1997), Trafficking in Women and Children: Asian Perspective with Special
Reference to Bangladesh, Paper presented at the national Workshop on Trafficking in Women
and Children, 23-25 May 1997, Dhaka.
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