• Dr. Mohammad Amir Uddin
• Prof. Dr. Mohammed Salim Bhuyan

Bangladesh is known as a source and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically forced labor and forced prostitution. A significant portion of Bangladesh’s trafficking victims are men recruited for work overseas with fraudulent employment offers who are subsequently exploited under conditions of forced labor or debt bondage. A study was conducted to know the scenario of trafficking in women and children in Bangladesh, to know the extent of the trafficking in women and children problem in Bangladesh, to know the profile of the victims of trafficking and to know about the availability and effectiveness of existing legal instruments to combat this activity. The study was conducted in Godagari and Tanore Upazila of Rajshahi District, Nababgonj Sadar and Shibganj Upazila of Chapai- Nawabganj District as four trafficking prone Upazilas of the country. The study was of survey and case study type. In this study, quantitative data were collected using Questionnaire and respondents were victims of trafficking, Woman and Children at risk of trafficking, NGO personnel and local people. So, in this study for qualitative data, interview technique was used. UNO, OC, Local elite, UP Chairman from both areas were interviewed. A total number of 100(one hundred) people were taken as respondents. Among them, persons to be interviewed were Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Union Parishad Chairman, Officer in- charge of police station (OC), Executive director and program officer of ACD and local elites. Others were selected a bit purposively in each category and from ACD shelter home. In this category population at risk, victims of trafficking and local people were included. Data were collected from them using questionnaire. Some secondary data were also collected from the secondary sources. From the result it was found that more women are trafficked compared to children and more girls are trafficked compared to the boys. The victims have come from very poor families. Most of the parents are landless, wage labourers or self employed in petty business. Maximum (70%) of the children were trafficked from the age group of 13-16 years and maximum (50%) of women were trafficked belongs to age group of 23-28. Education is an important factor behind trafficking because about eighty two (81.67%) percent of women victims were illiterate. From the result it was also found that the majority of both male & female victims of trafficking are from the rural areas while the minimum numbers of the victims are from the urban areas. From the result it is found that, both children and women were tricked in the name of job and marriage. It is said that in most cases the agents are women and know to the victims and their families. Maximum numbers of women victims are trafficked to Dubai, India and Pakistan. From the result it was also found that maximum number of occurrence of trafficking causes due to the poor economic condition of the parents. The Child marriage and polygamy in the rural areas, lack of employment opportunity, unpaid child labor for domestic work, children and women of broken families and families with step mother/father are also the reasons for trafficking in person. Due to lack of education of parents, corruption among law enforcing member and lack of social security & safety followed by other causes are the causes of human trafficking. To stop the trafficking a massive awareness program should be provided by print and electronic Medias. An appropriate arrangement should be adopted for the protection of victims of trafficking and witnesses. Education and job should be provided for all. Law enforcing agencies should be neutral and friendly for poor female and girls.Public Prosecutors should be efficient and neutral.Security of judges, witnesses and victims should be ensured. Since judges are the main and only one legally supported media to combat hand down judgment through their wise decision based on evidence, so keeping them free from fear on their is a crucial precondition for the purpose. Criminal Procedures Code should be amended to ensure that names of trafficked women and children are not published in the media. The laws related to trafficking should be enforced and implemented without any mercy and discrimination. A national migration policy should be adopted. More NGO can abe worked against trafficking. Sharing of data among the NGOs and Government agencies through establishing network and concerted programs against trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children should be undertaken. The Government in repatriating trafficked victims from others countries should be assisted. Rehabilitation program for rescued and repatriated trafficked victims should be initiated. Safe shelter homes ensuring homely and friendly environment and minimum standard of care should be established.

Trafficking, Children, Women, poverty, education, rural, economy, route, Law enforcing agencies, awareness, media, agent

"Trafficking in Women and Children: A Legal Perspective of Bangladesh", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no.1012-1024, June 2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907A23.pdf

"Trafficking in Women and Children: A Legal Perspective of Bangladesh", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no. pp1012-1024, June 2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907A23.pdf