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Human smuggling on the rise

Dhaka has become a major transit point for trafficking of women and children

AVIK SANWAR RAHMAN
Dhaka city has become a major transit point for external and internal human trafficking, according to the Action Against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children (ATSEC) Bangladesh Chapter.
The anti-trafficking action group carried out a survey on 406 women and children and found 178 of the victims sexually abused in and trafficked out of Dhaka.
The scope for work has heightened the trend of human trafficking. The Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA) has recorded a case against Pacha Bibi for human trafficking. Pacha Bibi, who was arrested, had smuggled more than 500 teenage girls within two years from Mymensingh with a promise of well-paid jobs in Dhaka, complained Rafiqul Islam whose daughter Rokhsana was one of the victims.
With the licensed brothels in Tanbazar in Narayanganj and on English Road in Dhaka disman-
tled, mini brothels sprouted in residential areas and hotels in the capital.
The teenage girls are sold and resold to such brothels and also to those in Tangail, Jamalpur, Goalondo, Baniashanta, Mymensingh and Jessore.
Dhaka is also prone to external trafficking because of the shady business by travel agencies, most of which are located in Arambagh. India, Dubai and Kuwait are the main destinations of external trafficking from Bangladesh and prostitution, body organ sale, 'domestic work' and 'job' as camel jockey have been the main traps.
Three traffickers were arrested in a hotel in Arambagh on 23 February, 2003 when they were preparing to send four boys, aged 10-12, to Dubai for jobs as camel jockeys.
Salma Akhter Jotsna was sent to Dubai through Zia International Airport on March 2003 by her husband's friend Zulhas with the allure of a better job.
She was sold to an Arab and subjected to sexual exploitation. Jotsna came back home after her
father offered Zulhas Tk 50,000 for her return. After she arrived on May 15, Jotsna was admitted to One Stop Crisis Centre of Dhaka Medical College, established for one stop medical, police and lawyer's service to the victims.
Although the government has a safe custody shelter in Lalmatia for the women victims, it did not build any such home for boys. However, the BNWLA has a shelter for boys in Lalmatia and another for women in Agargaon.
According to the ATSEC survey, 69 per cent of the victims are females, trafficked internally and externally, while 51 per cent belong to the 11-18 age group, 52 per cent are illiterate or can only sign their names and 81 per cent are from the poor class.
"The reasons for trafficking are mainly poverty and lack of awareness, and ATSEC is concentrating on awareness building," said Khadiza Bilkis, project director of ATSEC Bangladesh Chapter.