Inexplicable inaction

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Mahmudur Rahman
There is a tendency to be cynical of reports that tend to berate sovereign nations by others through publication of analytical reports seeking to make the world a better place. That's where the disinclination of the government to accept most of what is said in the 10th annual Trafficking in Persons Report of the United States is understandable.
Leaving aside the natural questions that arise as to the need for such a report from a country rather than an international or independent body, the sourcing of facts that go in to the churn is one in itself. Much of these 'facts' are derived from the inputs provided by non-government organisations (NGOs) many of which have a penchant of thriving by 'selling' in over magnified form, the discrepancies and squalor of the country.
Be that as it may, there really is no point in denying that Bangladesh does have a major problem when it comes to human trafficking. Much of this is due to the contiguous border with India, a major 'consumer' of human trafficking. The Global Village concept brings with it benefits and sins with human trafficking topping the list. International 'demand' for Bangladeshi human traffic has not yet reached alarming proportions and the US reports has concentrated on the inability of Bangladesh to address the fraudulent side to one of its chief exports-labour.
For years, governments have stated their determination to stamp out the exploitative, unfair and unethical practices of a section of manpower agents who have been responsible for countless families becoming destitute. Unfortunately, there have been few publicly visible initiatives to show intent behind the words. The streams of people who returned home following the global meltdown as well as those who are deported following nasty experiences abroad don't have the wherewithal or will to follow up with legal action. Somehow, NGOs don't seem to be available for intervention in such cases.
The Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) that boasts 724 odd companies engaged in manpower export have argued-and reasonably, that it is unfair to paint all members with the same brush. However, the questions beg: what exactly are they doing to prevent it -in terms of public and member awareness and what initiatives do they have of action against their members, if they are involved?
There's plenty of evidence out there both from the victims as well as the media who are generous in their coverage of such returnees.
In the latest sordid episode 39 labourers who travelled to Monrovia, the capital of Liberia were taken to the northern town of Ganta where they soon realised that they had been had. The men, who came from different parts of Bangladesh, travelled with proper documentation to Liberia in November 2009, after being offered jobs allegedly paying USD 500-700 a month in Liberia's emerging garment industry. They had individually paid in the region of Tk. 207,000 to Tk. 345,000 to agents to cover one-way tickets to Liberia and necessary paperwork. Some claimed that the agents had also promised them subsequent jobs in Europe.
The Liberian immigration authorities only found them after a tip-off but had it not been for the combined efforts of the International Office of Migration (IOM), members of the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and the UNMIL Bangladeshi peacekeeping contingent one wonders what would have become of them. Thereafter the Bangladesh and Liberian governments agreed to their return home.
There are three factors that pre-supposes that action against the perpetrators can be easily taken. The Liberian government has arrested five Bangladeshi nationals and a Liberian national. The documentation must have been in enough order to satisfy the probing eyes of the immigration authorities of Bangladesh, Liberia and even the transit points of Dubai, Ghana and Nigeria. The army and the IOM have had access to the victims. The arrested in Liberia must have had men on the ground in Dhaka with access to technology and the victims must know them.
It took combined international effort to get these men back home. Perhaps a combined national effort between NGOs, BAIRA and the government can ensure some action that ensures these unfortunate persons get back their money and a yardstick of justice is established.
(The writer is a former Head of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs of British American Tobacco Bangladesh, former Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Cricket Board and specialises in corporate affairs, communications and corporate social responsibility. He can be reached at e-mail: mahmudrahman@gmail.com)