Dhaka becomes major trafficking transit point
Avik Sanwar Rahman
Human trafficking has become a lucrative business for the city's traffickers, especially in an environment where poverty is endemic. Due to increasing rural poverty, Dhaka city has become a magnet for urban migration as people from all parts of the country pour into the city in search of the means for survival.There are about 1500 readymade garment factories that are situated in and around Dhaka. Rural women have been flooding to the city in search of work in these factories over the past two decades. Dhaka has therefore become an open opportunity for human traffickers to catch poor young adolescent girls who come in search of jobs. Many forms of deception, in love, marriage, work and money, lead the women to be trapped by these traffickers. Unfortunately, the guardians of these girls have very few options but to believe the traffickers' lies. Although, some parents know what the fate of the girls will be in advance, poverty stops them from being able to take any legal action. Consequently, Dhaka city has become a major transit point of external and internal human trafficking. Women are sold and brought to Dhaka and then resold at higher prices to other parts of the country and also in transborder trafficking. After the evacuation of government licensed brothels in Tanbazar and English Road, mini brothels sprang in the residential areas and hotels throughout the city. These have become the major causes of internal migration for young women to Dhaka. The teen-aged girls are sold and resold in mini brothels throughout the city and also sold out to larger brothels in Tangail, Zamalpur, Doulatdia, Baniashanta, Mymensingh and Jessore. According to a survey of ATSEC Bangladesh Chapter, on 406 women and children, 178 victims were found to be trafficked from Dhaka. Dhaka city is also prone for external trafficking because of the expert services of the travel agencies, the majority of which are located in the Arambagh area. The external trafficking from Bangladesh is mainly to India, Dubai and Kuwait for prostitution, body organ trade, domestic work and young camel jockeys. The recent rescue of five boys and girls, by the immigration authorities at Zia International Airport, while being smuggled out by a Gulf Air flight on August 27 last Wednesday illustrates the city's exposure to human trafficking. Due to poverty, lack of education and deception, traffickers are rarely caught which has made the city a vanguard of human trafficking.
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