Staff Reporter :
The 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report by the US State Department, published on its website, paints a complex picture of Bangladesh’s efforts to combat human trafficking.
While the Bangladeshi government has demonstrably increased its overall efforts compared to the previous year, it still falls short of meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, keeping the country in Tier 2 for the fifth consecutive year since 2020.
Countries that fully comply with the Trafficking in Persons Act’s minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking are classified under Tier 1.
Conversely, countries under Tier 3 neither satisfy these minimum standards nor demonstrate significant efforts to comply.
In its latest report, it was noted that the government’s efforts to combat trafficking included increasing investigations, prosecutions, and convictions against traffickers. The government formally adopted victim identification guidelines for front-line officials and identified more trafficking victims.
Additionally, the government amended its overseas migrant workers policy to bring recruitment agents under greater oversight, thus increasing accountability. For the first time, the government also deposited funds into a victim compensation fund for trafficking victims.
However, despite these efforts, the report highlighted that the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. While law enforcement efforts increased, the government failed to adequately address internal trafficking crimes, including sex trafficking and forced child labor. Official complicity in trafficking crimes remained pervasive, and authorities often conflated human trafficking with migrant smuggling.
The report further criticised the government for not sufficiently investigating and prosecuting trafficking cases involving the exploitation of Rohingya refugees. No new anti-trafficking tribunals were established, and victim protection efforts were deemed insufficient. Officials frequently lacked a victim-centred and trauma-informed approach when interacting with trafficking survivors. Shelters lacked specialised services for trafficking victims, and there were few shelters available outside Dhaka, especially for men.
Additionally, the government continued to permit set recruitment fees, which rendered many migrant workers indebted and increased their vulnerability to trafficking.
While progress has been made in certain areas, significant gaps remain in the government’s approach to addressing human trafficking, particularly in terms of victim protection and the prosecution of internal trafficking crimes.
Furthermore, courts sentenced the majority of traffickers to fines rather than jail time, which weakened deterrence, undercut the government’s overall anti-trafficking efforts, and likely created security and safety concerns for victims, the report said.
The State Department has also revealed some prioritised recommendations: Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes, including complicit officials, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.
Increase efforts to identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, including disseminating and implementing formal victim identification procedures and screening processes, and refer victims to appropriate services.
Strengthen the capacity of Anti-Trafficking Tr
ibunal personnel to prosecute and adjudicate human trafficking cases and expand tribunals to heavy-caseload areas.
Increase the availability and quality of protection services for all trafficking victims, including adult male victims, foreign victims, victims exploited abroad, and victims intercepted in border areas; provide specialised services for trafficking survivors; and allow trafficking victims in government-run and funded shelters freedom of movement.
Consistently enforce regulations and monitor labour recruitment companies, dalals (sub-agents), and brokers who supply labour to recruiting agencies, including by eliminating recruitment fees charged to migrant workers and holding fraudulent labour recruiters criminally accountable.
Increase investigations and prosecutions of credible allegations of trafficking of Rohingya, including cases that do not involve movement, and establish clear procedures for Rohingya to file complaints in the legal system.
The report finds that the government of Bangladesh lacks sustained political will, which stymies efforts to reform abusive sectors and adequately address trafficking compared to the scale of the problem.
Even the government did not sufficiently investigate and prosecute trafficking cases involving the exploitation of Rohingya refugees, it observed.
The report further said that in the last five years, traffickers have exploited domestic and foreign victims in Bangladesh, and traffickers have exploited victims from Bangladesh abroad.
The government tended to disproportionately focus on international labour trafficking and dedicated less attention to internal trafficking, including bonded labour, domestic forced labour, sex trafficking, and the worst forms of child labour, it observed.
BD, Italy agree
and investment opportunities, defense and security collaboration, information and communication technology (ICT) with a focus on cybersecurity, the transition to a green economy with an emphasis on renewable energy, and streamlined mobility and migration processes.
The frequency of these consultations, held just one year apart, underscores the flourishing partnership between the two nations. The inaugural round, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Political Consultations, took place in Rome on June 7, 2023.
Both sides acknowledged the pivotal role played by the July 25th, 2023 meeting in Rome between Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
They expressed satisfaction over the transformation of this relationship towards a broad-based partnership with strategic elements.
They emphasised curbing irregular migration and promoting legal pathways for skill mobility from Bangladesh to Italy, as well as cooperation in the UN and in the Indo-Pacific.
They also shared views on various regional and international issues, including the Rohingya crisis, the prevention of violent extremism, climate change and food security, situations in Myanmar and Afghanistan, and wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Prior to the political consultations, the Secretary General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, MP, at his office.
They discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation through the exchange of high-level visits, trade and investment, AI and ICT, green growth, skills mobility, higher education, and culture.
The Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro, and representatives from various ministries of the government of Bangladesh also joined the consultations.
State Dept objects
public acknowledgement of their inability to publish known corruption stories. This troubling reality is underscored by Bangladesh’s ranking of 165th out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index,” added the journalist.
The journalist then inquired about potential actions the United States might take to address these threats to press freedom and combat corruption within Bangladesh.
In response to it, Matthew Miller said, “We strongly support the role of a free and independent media in maintaining effective democratic institutions and promoting government transparency.”
He further said, “We object to any efforts to harass or intimidate journalists to prevent them from conducting their important work.”
Recently, the Police Association issued a letter stating that the mass media reports about the corruption of some police officials are tarnishing the image of the police force, which has made a made a myriad of contributions at different times, as they said.
Following such a report, the journalism community and its organisations, corruption watchdog TIB, and political parties condemned the police statement.
This time, the US State Department also expressed its opinions regarding the media role and urged all to refrain from the intimidation of journalists and allow them to carry out their jobs.
In response to another question regarding India and Bangladesh’s renewed commitment to a free, inclusive Indo-Pacific region,.
The joint statement issued after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her state visit to India reaffirms both countries’ commitment to a free, open, inclusive, secure, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, recognising their partnership’s contribution to regional peace, security, and stability. Does this commitment mirror U.S. interest in promoting a similar vision for the Indo-Pacific region?
Replying to this question, Matthew Miller said that the US supports peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“I don’t want to speak to that specific commitment because I haven’t read the statement or engaged with my colleagues here. But obviously, we do support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. That has been a hallmark of our engagement in that region,” he said.
During the recent meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Delhi, the Indian Premier welcomed Bangladesh’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative.
Modi said, “We had detailed discussions from defence production to the modernization of the armed forces. We have decided to strengthen our cooperation over counter-terrorism, fundamentalism, and peaceful management of the border. Our vision for the Indian Ocean region is the same. We welcome Bangladesh’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. We will continue our cooperation at BIMSTEC and other regional and international forums.”