Prostitution In Bangladesh ..... Re: Shri Govardhan Brown HA HA HA HA ....
nkdat...@bigmailbox.net
> Shri Govardhan Brown HA HA HA HA ....
[..... As many as fifty women and children are reportedly taken out of
Bangladesh every day, and sold into forced prostitution, organ trade
or slave labour ..... Bangladesh is a source, and transit point, for
men, women and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation,
involuntary domestic servitude, child camel jockeying, and debt
bondage. Women and children from Bangladesh are trafficked to India
and Pakistan for sexual exploitation. Bangladeshi women migrate
legally to the Gulf states -- Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the U.A.E. and
Saudi Arabia -- for work as domestic servants, but often find
themselves in situations of involuntary servitude]
http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/03/09/d703091502116.htm
Daily Star, Dhaka, bangladesh
Friday, March 9, 2007
Women trafficking in Bangladesh
By Shegufta Yasmin
Yesterday was International Women's Day. Every year we celebrate this
day with lots of hope to change the world into a better place for
discriminated, vulnerable women. But the days remain the same. In
Bangladesh, women are victims of discrimination in different ways in
every aspect of life in society.
Here, I want to discuss about women trafficking in Bangladesh because,
nowadays, it is a very dangerous trend in society. A large number of
women's lives have turned into hell because of this vicious practice.
Nari pachar, Bangla for trafficking of women, has been one of the most
urgent human rights problems during recent years in Bangladesh. As
many as fifty women and children are reportedly taken out of
Bangladesh every day, and sold into forced prostitution, organ trade
or slave labour.
Thousands of Asian men, women and children are being trafficked
within, and across, borders annually. Bangladesh continues to face a
significant internal and international trafficking problem.
Bangladesh is a source, and transit point, for men, women and children
for the purposes of sexual exploitation, involuntary domestic
servitude, child camel jockeying, and debt bondage. Women and children
from Bangladesh are trafficked to India and Pakistan for sexual
exploitation. Bangladeshi women migrate legally to the Gulf states --
Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia -- for work as
domestic servants, but often find themselves in situations of
involuntary servitude.
In addition, Bangladeshi boys are trafficked to the Gulf to serve as
camel jockeys and as bonded labourers in the fishing industry. Women
and girls from rural areas are trafficked internally for sexual
exploitation and domestic servitude. Burmese women are trafficked
through Bangladesh to India for sexual exploitation.
Female migration has, consequently, been pushed underground and has
become an illegal practise. This policy restricting female migration
is remarkable, given the fact that Bangladesh is a labour-exporting
nation. It is one of the densest populated countries in the world, and
the remittance that the migrant workers send home is a large source of
income for the country.
Over the last decade, 200,000 Bangladeshi girls were lured under false
promises and sold to the sex industry in nations including Pakistan,
India and the Middle East.
A non-government source reports that about 200,000 women and children
have been trafficked to the Middle East in the last 20 years.
Different human rights activists and agencies estimate that 200-400
young women and children are smuggled out every month, most of them
from Bangladesh to Pakistan.
The Indian Social Welfare Board estimates that there are 500,000
foreign prostitutes in India, 1% of whom are from Bangladesh, and 2.7%
of prostitutes in Kolkata are from Bangladesh (Bangladesh Cedaw
Report).
Every day, over 50 women and children are trafficked out of Bangladesh
through the border areas. 500 Bangladeshi women are illegally
transported into Pakistan every day. (Press Statement, Bangladesh
National Women Lawyers Association).
Now we can understand what a devastating picture it is! In Bangladesh,
the collection points for trafficked women are usually far from the
border points. Women rescued in Dinajpur (in the north) were from
Cox's Bazar (in the south). Girls from the southern part of Bangladesh
are usually trafficked across the northern borders.
In Kushtia area, some villages are used as stations for the
traffickers. The Rajshahi border villages Bidirpur and Premtali are
used because there are fewer checkpoints. Jessore border is very
popular with traffickers.
Traffickers use 20 main points in 16 western districts near the Indian
border. The main trafficking route is Dhaka-Mumbai-Karachi-Dubai. Many
of the victims end up in Middle East nations.
Female migration is larger and more varied than in the trafficking
scenario. Often the rigid concept exists that migratory movement takes
place predominantly under coercion, or when women lose control and
other people take advantage of them, whereas this is not always the
fact.
While the risks of exploitation are considerable, the earnings women
make abroad are impressive as well. Many female migrant workers have
returned to Bangladesh with substantial savings, an enhanced sense of
well-being and greater confidence in their ability to take decisions
and cope autonomously.
Most often, people's perception is that trafficked girls are kidnapped
and taken away from their homes completely against their will.
Although this sometimes happens, in most of the cases a girl will
decide to go along with the trafficker herself, or under pressure from
her family.
Traffickers will look for girls from poor and vulnerable families in
villages, and tempt them and their parents with offers of lucrative
jobs, a good marriage or a comfortable life in neighbouring countries.
Only when they have taken her over the border and to her final
destination will she find out what kind of circumstances she will be
forced to work in.
If we go through the causes of trafficking, we can realise that they
are rooted in the very depths of our society. Here I am showing a few
causes, such as pseudo-marriage, dowry demand, unequal power
relations, and discrimination in the family by gender and age,
negligible decision-making status of women in financial matters,
negative attitude toward women and female children, social stigma
against single, unwed and widowed women, misinterpretation of religion
regarding women, religious fundamentalism, complications out of
conditionality and fraudulent practices in marriages/after marriages,
child marriage, polygamy, or incompatible marriages, easy divorce,
frustration in love and failure in conjugal life, enticements for
better life, e.g. job and prospect of marriage, increased dependency
of guardians on the income of their female children, natural disasters
making families homeless and disintegrated, acute poverty forcing
parents to abandon their children, lack of shelter for women in
distress, inefficiency of the law-enforcing agency, and women being
released from jail/hazat are given to guardians/custodians without
proper/legal verification.
Bangladesh should assign greater priority and resources to its law
enforcement response to trafficking. Prevention programmes must
address factors that increase the vulnerability of migrants or
potential migrants, such as poverty, and discrimination on the basis
of class, ethnicity and gender.
Trafficking and migration are inter-linked. Anti-trafficking
organisations and organisations working on all aspects of migration
can collaborate in designing programs, and researching and
strategising to achieve safer migration.
Prevention of trafficking requires cooperation and support between
governments, inter-governmental organisations, NGOs, local communities
and the migrants themselves, and between countries of origin, transit
and destination. Government of country must take responsibility for
their citizens, both at home and abroad. Destination country
governments should promote just and decent working conditions for all
workers, including migrant workers, whether documented or
undocumented.
Awareness-raising programs should empower migrants and potential
migrants to make informed choices and to migrate safely, rather than
discourage migration. Hundreds, and maybe thousands, of Bangladeshi
women and children are held in foreign prisons, jails, shelters and
detention centres, awaiting repatriation.
Initiatives must be made at all levels to address all stages of the
trafficking cycle: before a person leaves; at the time of recruitment
and travel; at the point of exploitation; and after return.
Initiatives aimed at preventing trafficking must be holistic. We want
a better world with no trafficking, but people's safe migration for a
better life.
=======================================================
[More than 200,000 Bangladeshi women were trafficked from 1990 to
1997, with 6,000 children trafficked, abducted or reported missing
during that time ..... Every day, over 50 women and children are
trafficked out of Bangladesh through the land border areas .....
Bangladeshi women have been auctioned off to farmers looking for a
combination wife and farmhand in Pakistan, India and Japan .....
Traffickers use 20 main points in 16 western districts of Bangladesh
near the Indian border. The main trafficking route is Dhaka-Mumbai-
Karachi-Dubai]
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/banglad.htm
Factbook on Global Sexual Exploitation
Bangladesh
Trafficking
Police estimate more than 15,000 women and children are smuggled out
of Bangladesh every year. ("Boys, rescued in India while being
smuggled to become jockeys in camel races," www.elsiglo.com, 19
February 1998)
As of February 1998, there were 200 Bangladeshi children and women
awaiting repatriation in different Indian shelters. ("Boys, rescued in
India while being smuggled to become jockeys in camel races," www.elsiglo.com,
19 February 1998)
Bangladesh and Nepal are the main sources of trafficked children in
south Asia. (Masako Iijima, "S. Asia urged to unite against child
prostitution," Reuters, 19 June 1998)
27,000 Bangladeshi women and children have been forced into
prostitution in Indian brothels. (Centre for Women and Children
Studies reports, "Women Forced into Indian Brothels," June 1998)
More than 200,000 Bangladeshi women were trafficked from 1990 to 1997,
with 6,000 children trafficked, abducted or reported missing during
that time. (Center for Women and Children's Study report, Zahiduzzaman
Faruque, "Women, children trafficking in Bangladesh," Kyodo, 5 May
1998)
Over the last decade, 200,000 Bangladeshi girls were lured under false
circumstances and sold into the sex industry in nations including
Pakistan, India and the Middle East. (Tabibul Islam, "Rape of Minors
Worry Parents," Inter Press Service, 8 April 1998)
A non-government source reports that about 200,000 women and children
have been trafficked to the Middle East in the last 20 years.
Different human rights activists and agencies estimate 200-400 young
women and children are smuggled out every month, most of them from
Bangladesh to Pakistan. A women lawyers' association estimates that on
an average, 4500 women and children from Bangladesh are being
trafficked to Pakistan each year and at least 200,000 women have been
trafficked to Pakistan over the last 10 years. The Indian Social
Welfare Board estimates that there are 500,000 foreign prostitutes in
India - 1 percent are from Bangladesh and 2.7% of prostitutes in
Calcutta are from Bangladesh. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)
More than 15,000 women and children are trafficked out of Bangladesh
every year. (Police estimates, http://www.webpage.com/hindu/daily/980220/03/03200004.htm
19 February 1998)
Every day, over 50 women and children are trafficked out of Bangladesh
through the land border areas. (Trafficking in Women and Children: The
Cases of Bangladesh, UBINIG, p.8, 1995)
500 Bangladeshi women are illegally transported into Pakistan every
day. (Press Statement, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association,
"Open sale of little girls at Tanbaza brothel," Daily Star, 2 July
1998)
About 200 Bangladeshi women and children are smuggled out of the
country each day, most end up as prostitutes. Many of the women and
children are extremely poor, and lured with false promises. ("Human
Smuggling from Banglsdesh at alarming level," Reuters, 26 may 1997)
In Bangladesh, the collection points for trafficked women are usually
far from the border points. Women rescued in Dinajpur (in the North)
were from Cox's Bazar (in the South). Girls from the southern part of
Bangladesh are usually trafficked across the northern borders.
(Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.19,
UBINIG, 1995)
During the past ten years an organized gang sold more than 10,000
women from Chapainababong to traffickers. A young girl was sold by her
mother to a trafficker for 10,000 takas. Families are targeted who
have daughters eligible for marriage and are very poor. There is a
demand for Bangladeshi girls. (Daily Sangbad report, 16 August 1993,
Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp.34, 35
& 36, Daily Sangbad, 16 August 1993, UBINIG, 1995)
In Kushtia area, some villages are used as stations for the
traffickers. Rajshahi borders of Bidirpur and Premtali are used
because there are fewer check points. Jessore border is very popular
with traffickers. Some hotels and godwons are used to keep the girls
brought from different parts of the country. At least 13 women are
being trafficked every day. In eight months police could rescue only
28 women who were being trafficked, and arrest 38 traffickers. Usually
the traffickers are not accompanying the women while crossing the
border. Therefore, it is difficult for the border police to arrest
them. There are female members in the trafficking gang, which helps to
hide their identity." (Ittefak, 15 October 1990, police sources,
Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp.19 &
20, UBINIG, 1995)
30,000 Bangladeshi women are in brothels in Calcutta, India. ("Human
Smuggling from Banglsdesh at alarming level," Reuters, 26 may 1997)
In 1994, 2,000 Bangladeshi women were prostituted in 6 cities in
India. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in
the Asia Pacific)
There are 200 trafficked Bangladeshi women and children in detention
centers in India awaiting repatriation. (http://www.webpage.com/hindu/
daily/980220/03/03200004.htm, 19 February 1998)
Between January 1990 and September 1997, there were 2,545 cases of
trafficked children reported in the media in Bangladesh - 1,262 boys
and 1,283 girls. During the same time period, 2,212 trafficked
children were rescued. (President of the Centre for Women and Children
Studies, Ishrat Shamin, "Trafficking in Women and Children: A Human
Rights Crisis)
Between January 1990 and September 1997, there were 845 cases of
kidnapped children reported in the media in Bangladesh. 512 or 84%
were rescued. (President of the Centre for Women and Children Studies,
Ishrat Shamin, "Trafficking in Women and Children: A Human Rights
Crisis)
74 people, including 14 children, were rescued from Satkhira, en route
to the border to India. The traffickers had taken 2000 to 5000 takas
from each person. (Dainik Bangla report, 8 October1993, Trafficking in
Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.33, Dainik Bangla, 8
October 1993, UBINIG, 1995)
The price for girls is between Tk. 10,000 to Tk. 30,000 for beautiful
and healthy girls. Children are bought for Tk. 7,000 to Tk. 8,000.
(Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp. 20
&21, UBINIG, 1995)
2.7% of prostitutes in India are Bangladeshi, the largest population
of foreigners. The majority of these females are under 18. (Social
Welfare Board of India, Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the
Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country
Paper: Law and Legislation")
Between January 1990 and September 1997, there were 2,662 cases of
missing children reported in the media in Bangladesh. Only 228 missing
children, or 9 percent, were rescued. (President of the Centre for
Women and Children Studies, Ishrat Shamin, "Trafficking in Women and
Children: A Human Rights Crisis)
Children from middle class families risk kidnapping from schools and
being trafficking to Middle Eastern countries. (Trafficking in Women
and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.9, UBINIG, 1995)
There are two basic methods that traffickers obtain women and
children: One is to kidnap them. The second, is to lure the women with
false promises of jobs and marriage options. Traffickers pose as
prospective grooms, then take the girls out of the border as their
wives. (Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp.
16 &17, UBINIG, 1995)
Girls are sold to traffickers by their parents who consider them to be
a burden after a certain age. (Trafficking in Women and Children: The
Cases of Bangladesh, p.17, UBINIG, 1995)
Women, who believe that traffickers will assist them to find
legitimate jobs, pay traffickers from Tk. 2000 to Tk. 6000.
(Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.18,
UBINIG, 1995)
Women and children from India are sent to nations of the Middle East
daily. Girl children in prostitution and domestic service in India,
Pakistan and the Middle East are tortured, held in virtual
imprisonment, sexually abused, and raped. (Indrani Sinha, SANLAAP
India, "Paper on Globalization and Human Rights")
Sanlaap shelter Sneha has 25 to 30 rescued prostituted children. 60%
of the children rescued from prostitution are HIV positive. (Indrani
Sinha, SANLAAP India, "Paper on Globalization and Human Rights")
10,000 Bangladeshi children are in brothels in Bombay and Goa India.
(Trafficking Watch Bangladesh, "Human Smuggling from Banglsdesh at
alarming level," Reuters, 26 may 1997)
Methods and Techniques of Trafficking
Traffickers use 20 main points in 16 western districts of Bangladesh
near the Indian border. The main trafficking route is Dhaka-Mumbai-
Karachi-Dubai. Many of the victims end up in Middle East nations.
(Zahiduzzaman Faruque "Women, children trafficking in Bangladesh"
Kyodo, 5 May 1998)
In India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, child marriage is accepted,
and considered the best method to procure girls for prostitution.
(Indrani Sinha, SANLAAP India, "Paper on Globalization and Human
Rights")
Forms of trafficking include fake marriages, sale by parents to
"uncles" offering jobs, auctions to brothel owners or farmers,
abduction. Traffickers and procurers pose as prospective husbands to
impoverished families. They take the girls away and sell them into
prostitution. A large number of "brides" have been collected in this
manner and brought as a group to Pakistan where they are handed over
to local traffickers. (CATW - Asia Pacific "Trafficking in Women and
Prostitution in the Asia Pacific" (24)
Bangladeshi women have been auctioned off to farmers looking for a
combination wife and farmhand in Pakistan, India and Japan (CATW -
Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia
Pacific)
Bangladeshi women who are trafficked and prostituted in debt bondage
in India's sex industry are forced to work longer hours and serve more
men than local women. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and
Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)
Cases
In May 1998, 217 Bangladeshi women and children who had been
trafficked into India were repatriated. (Zahiduzzaman Faruque,"Women,
children trafficking in Bangladesh," Kyodo, 5 May 1998)
In 1992, 74 Bangladeshi women and children on their way to be sold in
Pakistan were found bound and gagged in the cargo hold of a boat.
(CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the
Asia Pacific)
One trafficker was arrested and 46 people (12 male, 9 female and 25
children) from Jessore were rescued by police as they were being
trafficked by bus across the border into India. All were held in
police custody. (Ittefak report, 16 June 1993, Trafficking in Women
and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp.31 & 32, Ittefak, 16 June
1993, UBINIG, 1995)
49 men, women and children from Cox's Bazar were rescued and 2
traffickers were arrested by Savar Police. The people were sent to
safe custody and the traffickers were placed under police remand for
three days. Each person had paid the traffickers 3-4 thousand taka to
assist them across the border via Godagari, Rajshahi, Benalope and
Jessore. Middle aged men and women would be taken to hospitals in
Bombay and Madras, and their blood, kidneys, eyes, skin and hair would
be sold to hospitals. The young girls would be sold to the brothels in
Pakistan and India. Young men would be sold as bonded laborers. The
traffickers prefer young girls and children. For each young girl (the
traffickers) are paid 10-12 thousand taka and for each child they are
paid 7-8 thousand taka. (Ittefak report, 28 October 1993, Trafficking
in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp.32 & 33, Ittefak,
28 October 1993, UBINIG, 1995)
Policy and Law
The Bangladesh constitution provides that the "State Shall endeavor to
prevent gambling and prostitution. "Reading the various provisions of
different laws, the prostitute is considered a victim, however,
despite rigid provisions, the Penal Code provides in the following
sections protection to women who are victims of the sexual offences of
illicit intercourse, such as:
Section 364A - Whoever, kidnaps or abducts any person under the age of
ten, in order that such a person may be or subjected to slavery or to
the lust of any person shall be punished with death or with
imprisonment for life or for rigorous imprisonment for a term which
may extend to 14 years and may not be less than 7 years.
Section 366A - Whoever, by any means whatsoever, induces any minor
girl under the age of eighteen years to go from any place or to do any
act with the intent that such a girl may be or knowing that it is
likely that she will be, forded or seduced to illicit intercourse with
another person shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend
to 10 years and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 373 - Whoever buys, hires or otherwise obtains possession of
any person under the ate of eighteen years with the intent that such
person shall at any age be employed or used for the purpose of
prostitution or illicit intercourse with any person or knowing it
likely that such person will at any age be employed or used for such
purpose with imprisonment of either description for a term which may
extend 10 years and fine. Any prostitute or any person keeping or
managing a brothel, who buys, hires or otherwise obtains possession of
a female under the age of 18 years, shall until the contrary is
proved, be presumed to have obtained possession of such female with
the intent that she shall be used for the purpose of prostitution.
("The Laws Are Contradictory," Sigma Huda, founder of the Bangladesh
National Women's Lawters Association, Convenor, CATW, 1997)
The Bangladeshi cabinet has approved the death penalty for crimes
against women including trafficking, rape and murder. They raised the
penalty from 10 years in prison following an increase in trafficking
in which the victims included girls as young as six. ("Bangladesh
proposes death for crime against women," Reuters, 31 March 1998)
Convicted traffickers can receive the death penalty. Only one person
has received this sentence. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women
and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)
The Penal Code of 1860 contains provisions for kidnapping, which in
general covers trafficking also. Inspite of there being provisions in
the Penal Code, these were not being effective in stopping trafficking
because of various implementation problems. In 1983 a new Ordinance,
the Cruelty to Women (Deterrent Punishment) Ordinance was promulgated.
It replaced the relevant sections of the Penal Code. This law
increased the punishment to life imprisonment and death penalty for
kidnapping or abducting women, trafficking of women and children,
attempt to cause death, acid throwing, rape etc. (Bangladesh CEDAW
Report, 1 April 1997)
The Cruelty to Women Ordinance, passed in 1983, calls for sentences of
14 years to life imprisonment for kidnapping or abduction of women,
but this is rarely carried out, as there are many loopholes.
(Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.21,
UBINIG, 1995)
In 1995 another law, the Woman and Child Repression (Special
Provisions) Act 1995 was enacted. It provides for capital punishment
to offenders. It debars the granting of bail to persons accused of
heinous offenses against women and children. The penalty imposed in
section 8 of this act for trafficking and associated offenses is life
imprisonment and fine. Section 9 stipulates a penalty of 10 years with
a minimum of 7 years imprisonment for abduction to commit immoral act
on women and children. This Act provides for the setting up of
separate courts to try cases coming under it, one in each district. So
far ten such courts have been established. It is proposed to review
their performance and effectiveness before setting up the courts in
other districts. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)
Official Response and Action
The process of repatriation for victims of traffic, who are often held
in jail where they are continuously abused and re-victimized, is
lengthy due to a general lack of action and interest of Bangladeshi
embassies, and the bureaucracy between the Ministries of Women and
Child Affairs, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Social Welfare.
(Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women
Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")
Hundreds, and maybe thousands, of Bangladeshi women and children are
held in foreign prisons, jails, shelters and detention centers
awaiting repatriation. Many have been held for years. In India, 26
women, 27 girls, 71 boys and 13 children of unknown gender are held in
Lilua Shelter, Calcutta; Sheha Shelter, Calcutta; Anando Ashram,
Calcutta; Alipur Children's Home, Delhi; Nirmal Chaya Children's Home,
Delhi; Prayas Observation House for Boys; Delhi; Tihar Jail, Delhi;
Udavam Kalanger, Bangalore; Umar Khadi, Bangaore; Kishalay, West
Bengal; Kuehbihar, West Bengal and Baharampur, West Bengal. (Fawzia
Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer
Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")
Barisal Police arrested two traffickers and rescued 100 men, women and
children who were to be sent to India illegally. The victims were kept
in Sagorika Hotel after being lured by the promise of jobs in India.
They came from Sandip, Hatia, and different islands of Noakhali, and
were transported by ship from Chittagong. The traffickers received
600-1000 Taka from each person as transportation cost. (Ittefak and
Jonokontho reports 15 December 1993, Trafficking in Women and
Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.24, Ittefak and Jonokontho, 15
December 1993, UBINIG, 1995)
In 1992, Bombay, India, police intercepted the traffic of 25 children,
5 to 8 years old. The children and trafficker were held in the same
jail. Three years later, 12 of the children were returned to their
homes. (Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National
Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and
Legislation")
The Government is aware of the problem of trafficking and has taken up
measures to prevent it. One such measure is the strengthening of
border posts. However, the sheer length of Bangladesh's border with
India and Burma makes it impossible to prevent people crossing the
borders. Another measure is the strengthening of legislation and
increasing punishments for trafficking. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1
April 1997)
In July 1993 a case was filed against a woman, who trafficked three
young girls to India in previous months. Bhorer Kagoj, 29 October
1993, Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.
28, Bhorer Kagoj, 29 October 1993, UBINIG, 1995)
Action of NGOs
At a recently held workshop on child trafficking organized by the
Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum in December, 1996 a South-East Asian
and a National Action Plan were prepared for NGOs active in the area
of trafficking. It was decided to undertake networking and training on
databases/information and experience sharing by a Core Group with
representatives from Nepal, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The first
meeting of the regional Core Group will take place in March 1997 and
training is to be arranged between August and December 1997. The
Bangladesh National Plan focuses on legal protection through
implementation of existing laws; awareness raising on trafficking;
awareness raising and training on laws related to trafficking. It is
proposed that law-enforcing agencies in collaboration with NGOs
mobilize the community through local government bodies, educational
institutions, religious institutions and at the national level through
the media. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)
In Bangladesh, there is only one shelter with the means to help
victims of trafficking. The women and children have awaited
repatriation there for as long as 4 1/2 years. (Fawzia Karim Firoze &
Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association,"
Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")
Official Corruption and Collaboration
Although laws against trafficking exist, their implementation remains
weak. Although the new laws have increased penalties their application
has certain technical problems which are in the process of being
identified. There is scope for misapplication and harassment of
innocent persons. The law enforcing authorities and the judiciary need
to be better sensitized about the issues involved. There is a need for
stronger action against members of law enforcing authorities who are
themselves involved in trafficking. Regional cooperation is essential
to coordinate legal and administrative measures and procedures.
Information needs to be shared and extradition of offenders allowed.
Victims are sometimes charged with prostitution or immoral behaviour
and put in jail. The repatriation of Bangladeshi women trafficked
abroad needs to be facilitated. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April
1997)
More than 9,000 girls are trafficked each year from Nepal and
Bangladesh into bondage in India and Pakistan, often with the
acquiescence or cooperation of state officials. (http://
www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/releases/22_april_1998-0.shtml, 22 April
1998)
In Bangladesh, government and health officials deny services to
prostituted women and their children on the sole basis that the woman
is in prostitution. ("Govts urged to be more active against
trafficking of women, children," Dhaka Daily Star, 30 June 1998)
Trafficking is carried out by regional gangs who are well organized
and who have links with the various law enforcing agencies, which is
why only a very small percentage of the traffickers are caught or the
victims recovered. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)
Prostitution
In Bangladesh, there are 60,000 -100,000 people in prostitution.
(Government, CARE Bangladesh, (Wijaya Kannangara, Executive
International Division Sarvodaya Movement of Sri Lanka, "Paper on
Cultural Violation")
Approximately 1 million men buy prostituted women and children in
Bangladesh. (Wijaya Kannangara, Executive International Division
Sarvodaya Movement of Sri Lanka, "Paper on Cultural Violation")
65 percent of 135 surveyed women and girls in brothels in Bangladesh
were between age 11 and 13; 33 percent were between age 13 and 15.
(BNWLA survey, police estimates, Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of
the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country
Paper: Law and Legislation")
There are 15,000 to 20,000 children in street prostitution in Dhaka,
most of whom are in prostitution before reaching 12 years of age.
(BNWLA survey, police estimates, Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of
the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country
Paper: Law and Legislation")
Bangladeshi women, who have been in prostitution, fear and risk being
killed by their own families through honor-killings. (CATW - Asia
Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)
The Tanbazar brothel in Narayanganj is a market for the sale of minor
girls. At least 50 minors were kept hidden in the brothel, and when
discovered, police did not attempt to help the girls imprisoned there
or arrest the owners. (Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association,
"Open sale of little girls at Tanbaza brothel," Daily Star, 2 July
1998)
Policy and Law
Prostitution is legal in Bangladesh. (Wijaya Kannangara, Executive
Intenational Division Sarvodaya Movement of Sri Lanka, "Paper on
Cultural Violation")
The promotion of Export Processing Zones, which follow special laws on
all forms of violence, encourages industries of child prostitution and
other forms of sexual exploitation. (Fawzia Karim Firoze and Salma Ali
of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh
Country Paper: Law and Legislation")
In Bangladesh, the justice system entitles a sexual offender to a
privileged position, which is a major contributor into forcing women
into silence. (Sigma Huda, "Laws and Legislation Relating to Sexual
Exploitation")
Government and health officials deny services to prostituted women and
their children on the sole basis that the woman is in prostitution.
("Govts urged to be more active against trafficking of women,
children," Dhaka Daily Star, 30 June 1998)
The Suppression of Immoral Trafficking Act, 1993 provides for
punishment for forcing a girl into prostitution. Abetment by having
custody or charge of the girls is also a crime. Section 11 of the Act
prohibits the detention of any female child under the age of 18
against her will in any house, room or places in which prostitution is
carried out. The section provides a penalty of maximum three years of
imprisonment or fine or both. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)
There are no statistics on the numbers of prostitutes. The Bangladesh
Bureau of Statistics enumerates them as "destitutes" and does not
recognize prostitution as an occupation. The Constitution states that
"the State shall adopt effective measures to prevent prostitution and
gambling" [Part II, Fundamental Principles of State Policy, Section 18
(2)]. There are laws against forcing anyone into prostitution or into
"immoral acts" (Penal Code 72, 73, 74). Soliciting is also against the
law (Criminal Procedure Code). However there are no laws against a
person of 18 or above engaging in sexual activity in exchange for
money. It is sufficient for a prostitute to have an affidavit
delivered by a magistrate stating that she is above 18 for her not to
be arrested by the Police. That does not preclude harassment and being
asked for bribes. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)
Prostitution is technically neither legal nor illegal but exists in a
gap in the law, as in many countries. Therefore prostitutes do not
have any legal protection, nor can the State take any legal measures
against them. As citizens they can demand the same fundamental rights
from the State, such as the right to protection and security, the
right to shelter and to basic amenities. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1
April 1997)
While laws relating to violence against women, including rape, apply
equally to prostitutes, in practice they are discriminated against as
they will be classified as 'habituated' to sexual intercourse and
proof will be considered to be harder to give/accept. Prostitutes are
often subjected to harassment and violence from the Police who are
theoretically supposed to protect their rights. (Bangladesh CEDAW
Report, 1 April 1997)
Organized and Institutionalized Sexual Exploitation and Violence:
A large percentage of the 120,000 women in the garment industry suffer
sexual exploitation. There is no legislation protecting workers in the
informal sector laws (Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the
Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country
Paper: Law and Legislation")
During the 1971 war in Bangladesh, 200,000 women and girls were
sexually abused and raped by soldiers. (Sigma Huda, "Laws and
Legislation Relating to Sexual Exploitation")
Self appointed village bodies have issued fatwas against women for
"incorrect behavior." In several cases women have been violently
punished and murdered. (Fawzia Karim Firoze and Salma Ali of the
Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country
Paper: Law and Legislation")
Muslim and Bangladeshi state laws prohibit the marriage of girl
children. This prohibition is ignored and the practice defended by
state and religious leaders, especially in rural areas where girls as
young as 10 are illegally married. (Fawzia Karim Firoze and Salma Ali
of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh
Country Paper: Law and Legislation")
Women held in "safe custody" and other forms of confinement are often
abused, raped and murdered by law enforcement officials. (Fawzia Karim
Firoze and Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer
Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")
In 1997, 21 Bangladeshi women reported being raped by police officers,
7 of whom were in custody. ('Ain-o-Salish Kendra NGO records, Tabibul
Islam, "Rape of Minors Worry Parents," Inter Press Service, 8 April
1998)
Policy and Law
Rape laws in Bangladesh are outdated and ineffective, such as the 1860
Penal Code and the Law of criminal Procedure 1860, which demands that
eyewitnesses testify to the act. Of 311 women surveyed who had been
raped, none recieved any form of justice because of loopholes in the
law. (Ain-o-Salish Kendra survey, Tabibul Islam, "Rape of Minors Worry
Parents," Inter Press Service, 8 April 1998)
Within the Prevention of Repression Against Women and Children Act,
1997, there is no provision for punishment of sexual harassment or
mental torture of those held in custody. (Fawzia Karim Firoze and
Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association,"
Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")
The Department of Women's Affairs has established a Cell Against
Violence Against Women. In 1996 it dealt with 83 cases of acid
throwing; 1415 cases of rape; 1664 cases of physical assault; 138
cases of trafficking; 85 cases of procurement of women for illicit
reasons; 594 cases of dowry; 115 cases of maintenance, and 1539 cases
of suicide; a total of 5933 cases in all. In 1995/96 the Dhaka unit
received 1176 cases. It carried out 550 cases of restoration of family
relations, 363 cases of procurement of maintenance and dower money of
an amount of 688,280 Takas. Legal counselling was provided in 185
cases. Twenty-nine cases were filed in court. Ninety-one cases were
sent to other agencies. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)
Fatwas
Women, especially poor and rural women, are increasingly becoming the
target of fatwas (religious edicts) by religious leaders in
Bangladesh. In Faridpur, a mother of two children was set on fire, for
an "illegitimate relationship." She was tied to a tree and flogged 50
times and then set on fire. In 1993, a 30-year-old woman was stoned to
death for an "illegal marriage" in Kamalganj Thana of Northeastern
Sylhet. The lower half of her body was buried and she was stoned 101
times. It took an hour for her to die. (Ershadul Huq, India Abroad
News Service, 30 November 1997)
Case
Three Bangladeshi policemen were sentenced to death for the 1995 rape
and murder of a 16-year-old girl in a highway patrol van. The police
claimed she was only a prostitute. Riots followed this pronouncement
in which the police fired on the crowd killing 7 people. (Associated
Press, 1 September 1997)
In October 1996, Shima Chowdhury and her boyfriend, Abdul Hafiz were
arrested for walking together in public without being married. The
police did not keep a record of the arrest, and held them both without
allowing them to be seen by a court, which is illegal. While detained,
Shima was drugged and raped to the point of unconsciousness. In July
1997in Bangladesh four policemen were acquitted of raping Shima
Chowdhury. She died in "safe custody" under mysterious circumstances
after reporting the rape. "Safe custody" is used by police for victims
of rape, sexual assault, trafficking and kidnapping. It purports to
provide safety for those in danger of further assault, but in reality
it is a form of punishment. The women are kept with other prisoners
and are treated as if they are charged with, or convicted for, an
offence. ("Bangladesh: Failure by state protects alleged rapist," AI
Index, 13 May 1997)
===========================================================
http://www.thedailystar.net/law/2004/09/01/fact.htm
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
September 5, 2004
Bangladesh must act to stop trafficking in persons
Trafficking In Bangladeshi Women & Children Is Big Business .....
[According to a report from the USAID's anti- trafficking programme,
10 to 20 thousand Bangladeshi women and children are smuggled out of
the country every year. Many of the victims are as young as two years
old. The destinations of most of the trafficked women and children are
India, Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries. Many of the victims end
up in brothels and boys are used as camel jockeys. Many are forced
work as housemaids]
http://www.thedailystar.net/law/2004/09/01/fact.htm
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
September 5, 2004
Bangladesh must act to stop trafficking in persons
Marzina's mother married another man when her father died. The small
girl was then sent to her grandfather's family. One day the stepfather
told her grandfather that Marzina's mother was ill and wanted to see
her. The grandfather permitted the girl to travel with her stepfather
who instead of bringing her to her mother took her to Mumbai.
In Mumbai, police rescued Marzina from a hotel and arrested the
stepfather although he was released later. When Marzina's mother heard
about the story, she could not believe it. "I've not sent for my
daughter," she repeatedly told neighbours and police during
investigation.
After staying in a shelter house called 'Prema Home' in Mumbai for
about four months, Marzina was brought back home by Bangladesh Jatiya
Mohila Ainjibi Samity. She now shuttles between her grandfather's
house and the shelter provided by the samity. "I've been saved by some
good people. I'm grateful to them," said Marzina during a trip to the
shelter recently.
Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Ainjibi Samity has recently helped rescue a
small boy, Kamran, from some alleged human traffickers in Mirpur. One
of the detained men told police that they picked up Kamran from a
trade show in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. They struck a deal with other
traffickers to sell Kamran for Tk. 3,000. He would have been smuggled
to a Gulf nation for use as camel jockey, police said.
Human trafficking, particular in children and women, has been
increasing in Bangladesh, according to non-government organisations.
According to a report from the USAID's anti- trafficking programme, 10
to 20 thousand Bangladeshi women and children are smuggled out of the
country every year. Many of the victims are as young as two years old.
The destinations of most of the trafficked women and children are
India, Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries. Many of the victims end
up in brothels and boys are used as camel jockeys. Many are forced
work as housemaids.
A senior BDR official told a recent meeting that at least 1008
Bangladeshis had been trafficked out of the country between 2001 and
2003. During this period 1116 women and children had been rescued from
the traffickers.
As per the Combat Child Trafficking Project under Women and Child
Affairs Ministry, a baseline study by the NGOs has found that 1089
children were smuggled out of the country during Oct. 2001-Sept. 2002
period. Among them 538 were girls and 551 boys. And the governmentis
considering launching a new project this year to further strengthen
anti-trafficking measures.
However, according to National Anti-Trafficking Information Resource
Centre, 519 people were trafficked out of the country in 2003.
Even though the figures from different sources differ from each other,
one thing is clear: trafficking of women and children is a big problem
in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has enacted tough laws to stop trafficking in persons. The
offence carries up to death penalty.
Executive Director of Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Ainjibi Samity said:
"Human trafficking is a cross-border issue. So Bangladesh and India
must co-operate with each other to deal with the problem."
Dr. Mahmuda Islam, a teacher at Dhaka University's Sociology
Department, says poverty is a key factor in human trafficking from
Bangladesh. She also stresses the need for creating anti-trafficking
awareness.
============================================================
Concerted Group Effort By Bangladesh Officials At Core Of Trafficking
Of Women To Middle East Countries .....
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/11/21/d61121012015.htm
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Govt body at core of human trafficking - Finds probe
An unholy nexus of brokers, a section of government officials and
immigration police are involved in illegal migration of thousands of
workers, mainly female workers to Middle East countries.
The case of Lebanon is enough to prove their existence, as there are
more than 15,000 Bangladeshi workers in Lebanon, whereas according to
official statistics Bangladesh only sent around 4,000 workers to the
country since 1992.
Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), the regulatory
wing of the expatriates' welfare ministry, is a major player of the
nexus and a number of its officials earn huge amount of money as
bribes from both regular and illegal workers wishing to work overseas.
Their alliance, however, remains out of reach, as they satisfy the
highest authorities of the government, including the secretaries and
ministers with financial incentives, sources said.
The investigation following the recent incident of rounding up 31
women, who were about to fly to Lebanon with fake documents on
November 17, revealed sensational information about the network of
brokers, officials and immigration police.
Even though four BMET officials at Zia International Airport (ZIA) on
November 17 said they could not check the documents of the 31 women,
as their computer was "out of order," they later admitted to the
police about the issuing of illegal immigration clearance by the BMET.
Sources said any aspirant migrant worker seeking immigration clearance
from BMET must pay Tk 300 labelled as "board fee" at the very
beginning. Totalling more than Tk 5 crore a year, the so-called board
fee is distributed among the people involved in the illegal act -- top
to bottom as per a pre-determined ratio according to their rank.
"The amount of bribe depends on the anomalies detected while the
documents are scrutinised. It ranges from Tk 500 to Tk 10,000," a
recruiting agent said.
Sources named Manjur Rahman, director (Emigration and Protocol), as
the most corrupt official who allegedly used to bribe Tk 5 lakh
monthly to former state minister for expatriates' welfare and overseas
employment Major (Retd) Quamrul Islam and former director general of
BMET SM Wahid-uz Zaman when they were at their respective offices.
One of the key officials, Manjur could manipulate the issuing of
immigration clearances, as there is no clear policy of the government
on a number of countries, sources said. For example, workers can go to
Lebanon, but not always. At present, the government is unwilling to
send workers to Lebanon, as there is no Bangladesh mission there and
considering the situation that developed following the Israeli attack
on Lebanon.
The migration to Lebanon is possible if the Lebanese employers send
visas for Bangladeshi workers attested by the Bangladesh's consul
general in Lebanon, an agent said.
He said knowing the fact that visas of the 31 workers were valid and
that there will be no problem for the women to enter Lebanon, the BMET
officials could issue fake immigration clearances.
On contact, Manjur Rahman outright denied the allegations brought
against him and blamed the brokers and the immigration police for
their involvements in the illegal migration processes.
"Immigration police are responsible for checking the documents. How
did the women get past immigration when their documents were invalid?"
he said.
Asked why the BMET officials first told police that their computers
were "out of order," when checking of the documents were required, he
said computers can go out of order any time. "It is not mandatory that
the welfare desk check the workers' documents, it is the duty of the
immigration," he added.
Officer-in-charge (Immigration) Shamima Shabnam, however, said the
BMET welfare desk is mainly responsible for checking the documents of
the out-bound workers, as only they can crosscheck the information of
the workers in their computer network.
"The immigration allows the workers if the BMET okayed them," she told
The Daily Star yesterday, adding that this is the reason they cannot
put the blame on immigration police.
Replying to a question Manjur said, "There might be connivance of the
officials of the welfare desk and immigration police. The BMET main
office, however, is not involved with it in anyway."
It is the brokers who made fake seals for the immigration clearance,
he said.
Investigation officer (IO) Shahadat Hossain of Special Branch (SB) on
Sunday said they found links of the BMET high authorities in issuing
fake immigration clearances.
In May last year, police arrested three immigration police officers, a
security officer of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab) and
three brokers on charges of sending four people to Dubai with fake
passports.
Amzad Hossain of Caab then admitted that the immigration police took
Tk 2,800 for clearing each passport.
According to Airport Police Station source, there are at least 1,200
cases of illegal migration but the cases have not seen much progress
in investigation.
==========================================================