Law Letter
Human trafficking
Intensifying concerns for the society
Human trafficking is increasing in an alarming rate now-a-days in Bangladesh as well as in South Asia. Because of the clandestine nature of trafficking in person and rare prosecutions, crime statistics presents a very low estimate of the incidents of human trafficking. Hence figures that tend to be quoted and cross-quoted in all literature represent undependable data regarding women and children who have been trafficked to other countries from Bangladesh. Surveys regarding the number of women and children being trafficked are not only difficult to collect, but also different sources cite innately different figures. According to a report, 200,000 Bangladeshi women and children are being taken out of the country in last 10 years. At least 20,000 Bangladeshi women and children are trafficked to India and Pakistan and to Middle Eastern states every year. According to another report, 50000 Bangladeshi girls are trafficked to or via India over the year.
Trafficking in person is now commencing through social media. Traffickers are using social media to convince people and to proliferate their trafficking operations. Traffickers are spreading many rumors and fraudulent advertisements online. With this, most of the countries in the world are being affected by such kind of crimes. Ultimately this situation creates an immense pressure on the state for protecting its citizens from becoming victims of trafficking.
Human trafficking is a kind of crime that involves several other crimes like smuggling of persons, sexual offences, exploitation of children, among others. While addressing the increased number of human trafficking, the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act (PSHT), 2012 has come into effect for restraining and suppressing human trafficking at the earliest possible time and ensuring protection of victims of the offence relating to human trafficking. The Tribunal for the Anti-Human Trafficking Offence has been established with a view to ensuring speedy trial within 180 days after filing the complaint under section 24 of the PSHT Act, 2012.
Human trafficking is an offence against the humanity and such offences are now under surveillance of many Acts which aim to prevent such offences. In South Asia, rate of offence related to human trafficking is increasing day by day rapidly. States do take steps but in most of the cases, states fail to to provide safety to all citizens. It is highly essential to ensure proper implementation of the laws concerning the offences of human trafficking.