Enactment of a couple of Acts has hardly made any headway in combating human trafficking from Bangladesh mainly due to their poor enforcement, experts and rights activists have said.
According to them, no instance of punishment for the human trafficking activities has yet been reported since the enactment of two separate laws--Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act- 2012 and Overseas Employment and Migration Act -2013 for combating human trafficking and labour trafficking respectively.
Had there been any exemplary punishment for a criminal, the situation would not get such alarming, said migrants rights activists. Although the maximum punishment is death sentence for human traffickers under the 2012 Act, no one has been given such punishment so far.
They, however, said crossfire is not a solution to stop human trafficking as most of the times sources are being killed and the main godfathers remain unidentified and untouched in the process.
The migrants' rights groups also sought compensation from the Thai government for every dead and trafficked victim family member saying the Thai government is also responsible for not implementing their rules and regulation for combating such an offence.
SHISUK (Shikha Shastha Unnayan Karzakram) executive director Sakiul Millat Morshed said so far more than 50 cases have been filed under the Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act, 2012, but there is no visible progress of those cases.
For lack of victim protection system, the law cannot take its own course as victims don't want to follow up on many occasions getting threat from the offenders, he said adding "We do not get witnesses because of the same reason."
Besides, according to the act, cases are supposed to be settled within 90 days, but even after two to three years those cases are not getting final judgment, that is a stumbling block to the implementation of the law, Mr morshed said.
"After enactment of the law, nearly 13 cases were filed from my organisation. But not a single case is yet to be settled," he said. As a result, most victims have lost their patience for the lengthy process, he added.
A small number of cases were filed under the Overseas Employment and Migration Act 2013 due to lack of publicity campaign among the migrants, he said. Salma Ali, executive director of Jatiya Mohila Ainjibi Samity said labour trafficking from Bangladesh in the name of manpower export has been going on unabated but the government did not take it seriously.
In absence of victim supports and other loopholes people are not getting expected result from the existing laws.
She also said the definition of Overseas Employment and Migration Act 2013 is very good but the implementation of the law is necessary to curb trafficking.
She also said human trafficking is an organised crime. Dishonest people from both administration and law enforcement agencies and political persons are involved in the unlawful act.
"So, it is necessary to ensure vigilance at every related department and in borders areas," she said.
Salma Ali said there are capable police and CID officials who can help combat trafficking. She suggested the authority concerned not to transfer them frequently here and there to get their better service. She also suggested deployment of efficient BGB personnel and costal guard forces with modern equipment.
Ms Ali, however, said crossfire is not a solution to stop trafficking as most of the times sources are killed and the main godfathers remain unidentified in the process.
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