Human trafficking: Barbaric and inhuman

Human trafficking is rising alarmingly in the world including Bangladesh and it is high time we stand united against this crime against humanity. We often come across horrifying stories of human trafficking in the media and feel cold shiver running down our spines. Many Bangladeshis are easily lured by the criminal gangsters who entice them with lucrative offers of employment in foreign countries and finally dump them in a pitiable and life threatening situation. Quite often the gangsters also extract money from the victims' families. I hope that the United Nations will play an important role to stop human trafficking, as no single country is able to fight against these organized international gangs with widespread strong networks.

Side by side, all governments should launch an awareness campaign and encourage people to resort to legal channels for migration, so that they do not get entrapped in the hands of such trafficking networks. The visual media can also play a significant role in this respect by producing motivational programmes that will work as eye openers for the common people and they will stay away from any risky illegal immigration.

Rumana Sharmeen

Dhaka University

Dhaka.