Human Trafficking
US envoy urges govt to take strong action
Expressing concern over the present situation of human trafficking from Bangladesh, US Ambassador Dan W Mozena urged the government to take strong steps against the offence, a gross human rights violation.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain conveyed the concern of the ambassador to reporters after Mozena called on the minister at the ministry yesterday.
“We are not saying that human trafficking is not happening. But we are already working to check it. The home ministry enacted an anti-human trafficking act recently,” said Khandker.
For the last two years, Bangladesh has been ranked at Tier 2 watch list by the Trafficking in Persons report, annually published by the US.
Khandker, however, said there is no link between human trafficking and labour migration.
Traffickers allure both men and women into going abroad using tourist visas. Moreover, cross border trafficking occurs as Bangladesh has a long land border, he said.
Khandker, also the labour and employment minister, said to have sought US help in tackling the problem.
He said Mozena also voiced his concern over the killing of labour rights activist Aminul Islam, whose body was found near Ghatail Police Station on April 5.
“I told him that we are no less concerned about it.” The government came to know that Aminul was neither involved in instigating labour unrest nor had any conflict of interest with anyone, he said.
The facts will finally be known once the investigation into the killing is complete. “We are giving it the utmost importance,” he noted.
Khandker said Mozena was pleased about the overall labour situation in the readymade garment sector.
“However, I requested him to take measures so that buyers increase the prices of the garment products they buy from Bangladesh,” he said, adding that as a result, workers here will get better salaries.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments