|
Human trafficking: Bangladesh may face US sanctions
August 12, 2004
A report in a national daily said that the US has asked Bangladesh to improve
the human trafficking from Bangladesh within next five days or face sanctions.
If the report is true, it is surely a matter of grave concern. Bangladesh is
reeling under floods and its efforts at poverty alleviation is under serious
pressure for financial constraints. The economy is already feeling the heat of
the forthcoming end of MFA. Exports cannot match with imports as the markets
are shrinking for various restrictions. In the backdrop of such a scenario, the
US threat, if true, must be viewed with deep concern.
Arrival of a US delegation to reassess the relegation of Bangladesh from tier 2
to tier 3—the lowest rating-- in preventing human trafficking from Bangladesh
has lent support to the suspicion.
According to reports, the US asked government of Bangladesh a month ago,
precisely in the middle of June, to improve the situation within August or face
possible sanction. The threat came in the wake of publication of a report in
June last (the US has been publishing lately lots of reports on the Third World
on various issues such as human rights abuse) on human trafficking world. In
that report it said some 20,000 women and children are trafficked to various
countries annually. Obviously, the report based its calculation on various
reports by the NGOs. Bangladesh government rejected the report while agreeing
with the fact that people are being trafficked from Bangladesh. It did not give
any figure on how many people are smuggled out.
Unfortunate human beings—women and children mostly—are trafficked to other
countries where there is their demand. Some of these unfortunate victims are
sent to countries including the Middle East, Europe and even the US where they
are forced to live dreadful lives. Human trafficking did not evolve in
Bangladesh overnight and cannot be eradicated at the dictate of any country.
Unfortunately, these countries are not under any pressure by the US to put a
stop to exploitation of foreign immigrants. The rich countries are benefited by
human trafficking from poor countries. That is the reason why rich countries
are raising obstacles, instead of helping the poor countries effectively to
alleviate poverty. There is a vicious circle between rich and poor countries
for encouraging human trafficking. Joint efforts of rich and poor countries are
necessary to change the economic factors responsible for human trafficking.
In fact, the main conduit of trafficking is India and Thailand for these
unfortunate victims. They are vulnerable to such trafficking primarily because
of poverty. Extreme poverty often overrules the existing conservative social
system in Bangladesh. In case of women and female children, the lure of
employment and marriage is often the simple instrument to get consent of these
victims to undertake the journey on an uncertain future.
No country including Bangladesh needs US advice to end human trafficking. Human
trafficking is a business in human misery and humiliation for any nation. We
want to hear from the US delegation how best the US in cooperation with other
rich countries, can help fight poverty. No super power threat will work to end
poverty and the business in human misery.
The principal point is that the trafficking will not end so long the poverty
issue is not properly addressed. The US can go a long way in helping this
country alleviate poverty. By slamming down any sanction, the problem will only
accentuate, which means it will also breed terrorism.
We need to be very careful about foreign aided NGOs most of which serve foreign
interest. They are not interested in solving problems of Bangladesh.
Copyright 1999-2004, AsianSexGazette.com. All rights reserved. No
content may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission.
Please contact us via the link below for re-print and syndication policies.
|
|
Human
trafficking and misplaced accountability
8-11-2004
Bangladesh:
US team lauds steps to control human trafficking
8-10-2004
Government
urged to reject US report on human trafficking
8-9-2004
Bangladesh
and human trafficking
8-4-2004
|
