There are fewer job opportunities in the country. Even if you get a job, the income is not as expected. Maintenance is difficult. But if you go to the neighboring country, India, there is an opportunity to earn thousands of taka. A young girl named Afroza (pseudonym) took a risk to change her fate after receiving such a tempting offer. She moved to Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana state in South India, with her friend Sadia. She was told about a job in a beauty parlor. However, as soon as she set foot in Hyderabad, her dream was shattered. She realized that she had been the victim of a big fraud. Understand that you have been a victim of a big fraud. She had no choice but to surrender herself to fate.
Sadia sold Afroza to a young man in Hyderabad for a huge sum of money. From there, the young man took her to Delhi, where Afroza was sold to the head of a brothel. However, because she did not agree to the body trade, Afroza was brutally tortured. Afroza kept looking for an opportunity to escape. Months of hellish agony have already passed in the meantime. At one point, after getting a chance, she escaped by train to Sealdah in West Bengal. At one point, after getting a chance, she escaped by train to Sealdah in West Bengal.
After that, the young woman was mentally disturbed. One day at Sealdah station, some young people were harassing Afroza. Ambarish Nag Biswas, editor of the West Bengal Radio Club, reported the matter to the police. The police rescued Afroza and sent her to a safe home. Later, his treatment started there. Then they came to know that Afroza's home was in Bangladesh. Ambarish Nag informed the matter in writing to the Ministry of Home Affairs of India and Delhi Police. Her family was later traced after six months with the help of representatives of the Indian High Commission, the Ministry of Defense, and Ham Radio. She was sent to Bangladesh through Benapole after confirming her identity. She was later handed over to his family with the help of Benapole police.
Afroza's mother told the Khaborer Kagoj that she sent her daughter to work due to poverty. The family members were mad and disoriented after not finding their daughter for a year. Now, this is a big consolation that they have got their daughter back.
A total of 5 women and 14 children returned to Bangladesh along with Afroza through the Benapole check post after serving their sentences in India on April 30.
A 9-year-old girl used to beg with her father on the streets of Dhaka. Suddenly, she was nowhere to be found. A private development organization rescued her from India and brought her to Bangladesh a year and a half ago. It is known that another girl of the same age was taken to India by the brokers. Incidentally, both the girls were caught by the Indian police. Several people who work with women and children who are victims of trafficking said that 40 percent of those trafficked for sex work are children. Every year, thousands of women and children are trafficked from Bangladesh to cities like Mumbai and Pune in India.
According to the related sources, it has been possible to bring them back with the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Task Force on the Prevention of Trafficking in Women and Children of West Bengal. Returned women and children enter India illegally at various times. They were in the custody of various safe homes in West Bengal. Later, they were brought back by issuing travel permits after verifying their citizenship.
Foreign Ministry Director Bidosh Chandra Barman said that these women and children were brought through communication between the foreign ministries of the two countries. These returned women and children have been handed over to three human rights organizations. These human rights organizations have reached out to their families.
Bangladesh took a step forward in the 2020 Human Trafficking and Global Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Index. We raised from Tier Minus Two to Tier Two. Many countries, including the United States, applauded the development.
The police or any non-governmental organization does not have accurate statistics on how many women and children are trafficked from Bangladesh every year. Separately, according to the reports of various organizations, 2 lakh men, women, and children have been trafficked from Bangladesh in the last 10 years. Every year, 20 thousand women, girls, and children are trafficked from the country to India, Pakistan, and different countries in the Middle East.
How is trafficking done?
According to law enforcement officials, people trying to cross the border illegally temporarily stay in a house in the border area for a day or two. When law enforcement agencies or anyone else inquires about them, the people in those houses identify themselves as relatives. Later, taking advantage of the opportunity, they crossed the border at midnight. They similarly stay in homes across the border in India. Later, they were sold from there.
Salma Ali, President of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, told Khaborer Kagoj that it is very difficult to determine how many people are trafficked every year. There are numerous ponds, bills, or reservoirs along vast borders; there are some groups in these regions. Those who commit the act of smuggling go there for work voluntarily. However, they do not give the names and addresses of the accused. As a result, it is difficult to identify traffickers. No legal action can be taken against them.
He also said that work should be done to stop trafficking. However, as BGB, BSF, local police, brokers, and goons are involved, this crime is increasing. Therefore, even though the DCs in each district have an action plan in this regard, nothing is done.
"The 20 women and children who were brought back from India were victims of trafficking at various times. They have been handed over to their families," said Suman Bhakta, officer-in-charge (OC) of Benapole Port Police Station.
"We do various awareness campaigns to prevent trafficking. Apart from this, BGB is also working with us," OC added about stopping trafficking.
