Delayed justice is disservice to trafficking victims

It is indeed an affront to Bangladesh that hundreds of its citizens, deceived by false promises of jobs abroad, end up on battlefields in Ukraine, get trapped in brothels in India, suffer sexual abuse in Middle-East countries or meet a tragic death in the Mediterranean. Such incidents, occurring with disturbing regularity, are not only a crime against humanity but also a profound embarrassment for any nation that has an iota of self-respect. It is a reflection of the sad truth that the country could not ensure the basic needs and dignity of its people even after 55 years of independence. Tall claims by successive governments about socio-economic progress ring hollow when grinding poverty, lack of jobs and social repression drive hapless poor people into the traffickers' trap out of sheer desperation.

In 2012, the government enacted the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act to combat human trafficking, introducing even the death penalty as a deterrent. It was hoped that such a stringent law would at least curb its prevalence, if not completely eliminate the crime. But in reality it did not, mainly because of the delayed justice delivery system and extremely low conviction rate. The latest government report for January-June 2025 exposes how justice remains painfully slow for thousands of victims. As of June 2025, a staggering 1,529 cases were still under investigation and when previously filed cases are included, the total backlog of cases under investigation or judicial process rises to 3,128. 

The most troubling figure, however, is the conviction rate. Despite the scale of the crime, only 28 individuals have been convicted in just nine cases. Overall, conviction rate in human trafficking case is reportedly as low as 1.5 per cent. It is alleged that corrupt investigating officers take bribes from both the victims and the accused, deliberately delay investigations and often help members of powerful trafficking rings to escape punishment. This outrageous disregard for the rule of law has virtually rendered the laws against human trafficking toothless. The low conviction rate, coupled with the slow pace of justice, not only emboldens traffickers but also erodes victims' trust in the justice system.

To effectively combat human trafficking, it is essential to address the root causes of the crime, raise public awareness and ensure the speedy prosecution of trafficking offences. Law enforcement agencies must demonstrate sincere commitment to bringing traffickers to justice.  It must be ensured that traffickers who are caught and tried receive the punishment they deserve. Human trafficking is not merely a law-and-order issue; it is a profound human rights crisis. The country owes its socially and economically vulnerable citizens an effective justice delivery system. It owes them protection, dignity and some sort of rehabilitation mechanism. The victims of trafficking must be brought under the government's social welfare schemes. While a number of NGOs are working in this area, they are not in a position to meet the challenge of catering to such a large number of victims. The government must accelerate its efforts to this end if it does not want Bangladesh to be seen as a nation indifferent to human rights.