Bangladesh: Christian focus on human trafficking

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Caritas of Bangladesh, a work of charity by the Catholic Church, has assembled community leaders from transit locations bordering India to tackle the issue of women and children trafficking.

Two seminars were held on Nov. 8 and 9 at Gomostapur and Godagari sub-districts of Rajshahi, northwestern Bangladesh, that brought together 88 leaders from local organizations.

The meetings aimed to raise awareness at the grassroots level and highlighted the causes and effects of the crime as well as the responsibilities of local people in combating trafficking.

“My daughter’s husband was a trafficker. He lured me with valuable ornaments to marry her and she was eventually trafficked,” said Kohinoor Begum, a Muslim housewife. “People need to know the causes and effects of trafficking to stop this crime,” she stressed.

A Caritas source said trafficking is high in winter due to the cold which leads to lax border patrol.

“Poverty, low income, unemployment, widespread illiteracy, social exclusion, gender-based discrimination, lack of awareness and poor governance are key factors contributing to women and children trafficking,” said Rutna Das, Caritas Gender Cell program officer.

She said traffickers lured women and children with prospects of the dowry-free pseudo-marriage, attractive jobs and traveling opportunities.

Targeted female victims are those from poor families, those affected by natural disasters, single, divorced, widow, domestic workers and runaway children, said Denis C. Baskey, Caritas Rajshahi director.

A Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA) study says women and children are mostly trafficked to Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan and Middle East countries. Women usually end up in prostitution, pornographic films and low-paid jobs, while most boys become camel jockeys.

There are six “One-Stop Crisis Center” run by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to provide legal, physical and psychosocial help and shelter for the victims, plus about 20 NGOs and anti-trafficking networks in Bangladesh.

The United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF estimates around 400 women and children are being trafficked monthly through 18 transit routes bordering India.

“I will share what I’ve learned from this seminar with my fellow members, so everyone is aware about trafficking,” said Monoti Hasdak, leader of a local women’s organization.