Kat Pierce

H 230C
Country Report: Bangladesh
1) Which country have you studied?
Bangladesh
2) Provide an overview that explains whether this country is a source, transit,
and/or destination for international human trafficking, and/or whether
trafficking/enslavement are largely internal within the country (e.g., from
rural to urban areas, local enslavement on farms, or in domestic servitude,
etc.). Explain and substantiate your response.
According to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Bangladesh is a source,
transit, and destination for human trafficking involving women, men, and children
(1). Bangladeshi men and women are lured into work under false pretenses within
their own country or into neighboring countries (2). A large proportion of crossborder trafficking in Bangladesh is due to migration in search of employment. Most
are subjected to forced labor or forced prostitution (3).
Thousands of unreported children are trafficked from Bangladesh to other countries
every year (2). Children who are taken by traffickers often come from impoverished
or isolated regions. The parents are promised that their children will have a wellpaid job or a nice marriage (4). They are usually in extreme poverty, and they trust
the offer, which leads to the child being exploited (5).
3) If this is a destination country and/or if there is internal human trafficking,
which forms of trafficking are common in this country? (If you think
that there are no forms of trafficking happening within this country,
provide citations about that and some reasons why it is not happening. The
reasons don't have to be proven, but they must be plausible.)
Within the country, trafficked people are subjected to sex trafficking, domestic
servitude, or forced and bonded labor (5).
Girls are commonly trafficked into sexual exploitation or bonded servitude. The
sexual exploitation of boys is a fast-growing issue in Bangladesh, but it is hidden
because of the stigma it carries (4). Even when children are freed from their
trafficker, many of them do not remember their parents names or address, making
it difficult to track down the childrens families (2). If a child returns with a sexually
transmitted infection, they are often shunned by their family and community (5).

Forced labor is also a common form of trafficking within the country. The demand
for cheap labor results in people trafficked into domestic work, farm work,
organized begging, and factory work (6).
As for factory work, many men, women, and children work in garment factories in
Bangladesh. Garments made in factories make up an extremely large percentage of
Bangladeshs exports. U.S. and European retailers purchase their clothing from
Bangladeshs garment industry. However, many of the Bangladeshi workers are
abused, paid unfairly, and work extremely long hours. Despite the fact that 18 is the
minimum age for holding a full-time job in Bangladesh, much younger boys and girls
are seen working in the factories. Also, men, women, and children alike are often
exposed to harsh, toxic chemicals that are used to decorate the clothing (7).
4) If this is a source country, into which forms of human trafficking and
into which countries are citizens from this country commonly
trafficked? (If you think that there is little or no trafficking of people from this
country internationally, provide citations about that, and some reasons why it
is not happening. The reasons don't have to be proven, but they must be
plausible.)
Bangladeshi men, women, and children are commonly involved in bonded labor or
brothels. They are usually promised high-paying jobs, and some migrate willingly to
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia (3), the Persian Gulf, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Maldives,
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Sudan, Mauritius, the United States, Europe
(8), India, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (5). They are
then forced to work with little or no pay and sometimes held against their will
through debt bondage (3).
Women often travel to another country to be domestic servants. They are usually
paid nothing and forced to work long hours. Many of them are abused verbally and
physically so they will be too afraid to leave or seek help (3).
Men are often subjected to fraudulent recruitment for work overseas and are forced
to work through debt bondage (9). Men who are promised jobs are sometimes
kidnapped, drugged, and trafficked into other countries for labor trafficking. It has
been a reoccurring issue that if the trafficked men are discovered, Thailands
government will classify the men as illegal immigrants and send them to prison for
many years (10).
Children are trafficked into bonded labor or brothels. Many boys are trafficked to
the Middle East to become camel-racing jockeys and are often injured due to the
nature of the work. Boys become malnourished because they are not fed enough in
order that they can be light enough for the camels to carry. (4).

Tens of thousands of Bangladeshi women and children have been forced into
prostitution in India and Pakistan alone (8). They can be sent to brothels within the
country or into neighboring countries. Children of women who work in brothels
often end up working there as well (4).
4) What are the current national laws against human trafficking in this
country and how have they been assessed by legal experts (e.g. by the U.N.,
the U.S. Dept of State TIP Report, and/or the Protection Project)?
According to the Protection Project, Bangladesh does not have comprehensive antitrafficking legislation. Prostitution, trafficking for the purpose of prostitution, or
other immoral acts are covered in the Penal Code of 1860, the Suppression of
Immoral Trafficking Act of 1933, the Children Act of 1974, and the Prevention of
Repression against Women and Children act of 2000. Laws regarding human
trafficking include the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, the Dowry Prohibition
Act of 1980, the Primary Education Act of 1990, and the Labor Act of 2006 (5).
The Penal Code of 1860, Article 372 and 373, prohibits the buying and selling of
minors for the purposes of prostitution. If someone buys or sells a person under the
age of eighteen years old, or is keeping or managing a brothel, he or she will be
punished with up to 10 years in prison and will be liable to fine (11). The UNODC
describes the existing penal laws of Bangladesh as predominately based on
philosophy of crime control method rather than human rights-based approach. The
concept of restorative justice is fully ignored in the counter-trafficking, penal legal
framework. The person trafficked is discouraged from making a case against the
trafficker because of the extremely low conviction rate in trafficking cases (3).
However, the UNODC argues that the government has been addressing human
trafficking in a comprehensive way. The Human Trafficking Deterrence and
Suppression Act of 2012 has increased the number of investigations and
prosecutions (1). The National Plan of Action (2012 2014) for Combating Human
Trafficking aims to prevent human trafficking, ensure the protection of those who
are trafficked, develop an integrated information system about traffickers and
trafficked people, coordinate with state and non-governmental organizations, and
spread awareness about human trafficking (9). UNODC is offering the Government
on Bangladesh technical assistance and building capacities of law enforcement to
help strengthen the criminal justice system (1).
The UNODC also reports that the Police Monitoring Cell for Combating Trafficking in
Women and Children in the Bangladesh Police Headquarters was established as a
result of the new legislation in 2000. It consists of 15 police officers and a 12member police anti-trafficking investigative unit. This monitoring cell was set up to
strengthen protection and prosecution in Bangladesh (3).

Bangladeshs Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 criminalizes

trafficking. It punishes trafficking criminals by death or imprisonment for 10 to 20
years. It prohibits kidnapping, sexual oppression of women and children, and
damaging of organs of a child for beggary or sale (3).
Bangladesh has addressed trafficking issues in its Constitution. Article 34 prohibits
all forms of forced labor. Article 18 places duty upon the State to adopt effective
measures to prevent prostitution. Article 31 allows all citizens to be protected with
these laws wherever they may be, so whether a citizen of Bangladesh is being
abused inside or outside of the country, they should be helped and protected (3).
According to the 2014 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report, Bangladesh currently
holds a Tier 2 ranking and has been for the past two years (after being on Tier 2
Watch List from 2009 2011). Bangladesh does not abide by the minimum
standards combating human trafficking but is making changes to meet the
requirement (8).
The government is maintaining anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, and the
number of new cases of sex trafficking and forced labor increases every year. A large
number of cases are prosecuted, and traffickers are being convicted. However, there
have been reports of corrupt government, police, and border officials who turn a
blind eye to traffickers. It has also been reported that police and other public
officials have not been properly trained to identify and assist trafficked individuals.
(8).
The government has little effort to protect people who have been trafficked. The
number of cases registered actually went down from 602 to 377 from 2012 to 2013.
The government lacks a formal mechanism for authorities to refer trafficked people
to care. It does not fund shelters or services designed specifically for those who have
been trafficked but refers them to non-specialized support services (8).
The Bangladeshi government has also lacked in preventing trafficking in 2013. It
sustained policies that permitted the forced labor of migrant workers abroad to
continue. The government did enact the 2013 Overseas Employment Act, which
required labor recruiters to become licensed and job seekers to be registered in an
online database. It also included training for the women going abroad. However, this
was the only anti-trafficking awareness campaign that the government funded (8).
In sum, Bangladesh has made some anti-trafficking efforts but not nearly enough to
be ranked as Tier 1 just yet.
5) Which types of anti-trafficking efforts by which types of actors are evident
in this country? (along with a general summary, provide brief descriptions
and URLs of 2-3 noteworthy examples)

There are several nongovernmental organizations in Bangladesh that are working to

combat human trafficking. Some of these include Bangladesh National Women
Lawyers Association (BNWLA), Ain o Salish Kendro of Dhaka, UNICEF, and
International Organization for Migration (IOM) (5). Four NGOs have worked
especially hard in sheltering those who were trafficked: the Association for
Community Development (ACD), the Thengamar Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS), the
Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), and the BNWLA (3).
Descriptions of noteworthy examples:

Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA)

BNWLA provides contact information for women affected by violence. The
organization also offers phone counseling through hotline numbers. Their
goal is to improve the social, economic, and legal status of women (5).
URL: http://www.bnwlabd.org/

The United Nations Development Project (UNDP)

UNDP has launched various initiatives to help train and aid anti-trafficking
program workers. It has a strong focus on capacity building, human rights,
and womens empowerment (5).
URL: http://www.bd.undp.org/content/bangladesh/en/home.html

United Nations (UNICEF)

UNICEF is working hard to protect childrens rights. It has a Life Skills
program in Bangladesh that involves peer leaders and facilitated discussions.
Discussions focus on social issues that affect children at risk of trafficking,
such as child marriage, dowry, HIV and AIDS, reproductive heath, drug abuse,
child abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. This support helps children develop
interpersonal skills to make decisions and solve problems. UNICEF is also
working towards universal birth registration.
URL: http://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/
6) What are the main obstacles to anti-trafficking efforts within this country
and/or of this countrys citizens internationally?

Child sexual abuse permeates all levels of Bangladeshi society. Children are often
abused by family members or friends, at home, school, or the workplace. Many
children from isolated or impoverished regions lack economic opportunity and
receive little or no education. All these factors can contribute to their vulnerability
to traffickers. They are more likely not to know their legal rights or are persuaded to
think that they have no rights. It is a challenge to convince parents and children that
children have rights when society tells them they do not (4).

The government may make laws that address human trafficking, but they will not be
carried out if the police or other government officials either dont know how to
enforce them or choose to ignore them. It is hard to get reliable data about the
number of children, women, and men who have been trafficked when most of the
data come from police and media reports. Many cases of missing persons go
unreported (1). It is also not safe for people who are trafficked when a border patrol
officer turns a blind eye to traffickers. People count on officials like these to keep
people safe, not help carry out human trafficking. The training of law enforcement,
labor inspectors, and immigration officers, to recognize trafficking cases must be
increased (8).
Even if laws may be implemented, many parents and relatives choose not to report a
missing child to the police due to their poor economic conditions and/or children
from rural areas being abandoned by their parents (1). Economic conditions and
lack of education is a big problem in Bangladesh that leads to people in desperate
need for jobs.
Many anti-trafficking organizations are not sufficiently financially supported (3).
The support services available to people who were trafficked must be increased.
Also, people must be informed about their rights when migrating. If a woman is
going to work as a domestic servant in another country, she needs to know that she
is protected by the Bangladesh government and should be trained before she
migrates (8). The same goes for anyone that is going to work in another country.
8) References
1) "India - Bangladesh: Study Tour Helps Understand How to Prevent and Control Human
Trafficking." United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. UNODC. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.unodc.org/southasia//frontpage/2014/March/india-bangladesh-study-tour-helpsunderstand-how-to-prevent-and-control-human-trafficking.html>.
2) "BANGLADESH: More Data Needed on Abandoned Children, Trafficking." IRINnews., 6
Sept. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. <http://www.irinnews.org/report/96250/bangladesh-moredata-needed-on-abandoned-children-trafficking>.
3) Thomas, Sarasu Esther, Dr. "Responses to Human Trafficking in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and
Sri Lanka." United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. UNODC, 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
<https://www.unodc.org/documents/humantrafficking/2011/Responses_to_Human_Trafficking_in_Bangladesh_India_Nepal_and_Sri_Lan
ka.pdf>.
4) "Child Sexual Abuse, Exploitation and Trafficking in Bangladesh." UNICEF. UNICEF. Web.
18 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/Child_Abuse_Exploitation_and_Trafficking.pdf>.
5) A Human Rights Report on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children:
Bangladesh. Rep. John Hopkins University: Protection Project, 2010. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.protectionproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Bangladesh2.pdf>.
6) "Demand Side of Human Trafficking in Asia: Empirical Findings." Humantrafficking.org.
International Labour Organization, 2006. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.humantrafficking.org/uploads/publications/ilo06_demand_side_of_human_tiaef.p
df>.
7) "Inside a Bangladesh Garment Factory." CBSNews. CBS Interactive. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/inside-a-bangladesh-garment-factory/10/>.

8) United States. Department of State. Office of the Under Secretary For Civilian Security,
Democracy and Human Rights. Trafficking in Persons Report 2013. Comp. Department of
State., June 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/210738.pdf>.
9) "National Plan of Action for Combating Human Trafficking 2012-2014." Actions for
Combating Trafficking-In-Persons. Winrock International. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.actbd.org/doc/NPA%20FINAL%20DRAFT%2026-01.pdf>.
10) Head, Jonathan. "Terrified Victims of Thai Trafficking Face Uncertain Future." BBC News.
BBC, 18 Oct. 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29673120>.
11) "International Anti-Trafficking Legislation: Bangladesh." The Protection Project. Web. 21
Nov. 2014. <http://www.protectionproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/BANGLADESHBENGALI.pdf>.