600 local, int\\\'l syndicates active on sea route

Some 600 local and international syndicates are active in human trafficking to Malaysia and Thailand through the sea route putting lives of hundreds of Bangladeshi citizens in peril, intelligence officials said.
The Special Branch (SB) of police has recently traced those local and international human traffickers' syndicates with which many high-ups are allegedly involved.
The officials said due to experiences of hardship, sinking tragedies, bad weather and chasing by the law enforcers of other countries, more than 1,500 Bangladeshis died in the sea in last three years.
Human trafficking through the sea route has increased alarmingly in recent times as the ocean way has become a profitable one for the criminals, they said.
"And it is easy to escape from the law-enforcers in the waterway", said an SB official.  
The masterminds of such syndicates carry out their activities in collusion with political high-ups of Cox's Bazar and Chittagong. The syndicate bosses reside in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Malaysia, he said.
He said a large number of trafficking agents are mainly active in Chittagong Division and its adjacent districts including Jessore and Magura as well as several other districts in the northern part of the country.
The agents lure the poor as well as the unemployed people with false promises of jobs abroad.
When contacted, District Intelligent Officer of Cox's Bazar Khandakar Farid Uddin said: "The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and SB have identified more than 600 local and international syndicates which are involved with human trafficking to Malaysia and Thailand by sea along the coast of Cox's Bazar".
He said the police have so far arrested 30 top-listed traffickers in last six months and about 25 cases have been filed in this connection.
Meanwhile, the law enforcers including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Coast Guard and Police are now conducting a joint drive against the local and international human traffickers' syndicates active on the Cox's Bazar sea route, he said.
The intelligence officials said the traffickers use small fishing boats to carry Malaysia and Thailand-bound passengers from several areas including 'Shahparir Dip' of Sabrang upazila, coastal areas of Kutubdia, Katabunia and Hariakhali of Teknaf under Cox's Bazar.
Apart from the traditional spots, the traffickers also use Choangkhali, Zhaubagan, Inani, Mankhali, Rejubreez, Khonarpara and Septakhali under Badamtoli of Ukhia's coastal areas as safe spots for human trafficking to Malaysia and Thailand.
"Human trafficking to Malaysia and Thailand has increased drastically in recent times as the coastal regions of Cox's Bazar are being used as a safe route to the traffickers", Md Ilias Hossain, a media wing official of Coast Guard at Cox's Bazar district told the FE.
He informed that in last six months the intelligence personnel including BGB, RAB, Coast Guard and Police had arrested over 4,000 people on way to their journey to Malaysia and Thailand by conducting drives in various places of Cox's Bazar sea area.
Coast Guard alone caught 893 people in last nine months, he said.
One needs on an average Tk 0.35 million for going to Malaysia legally. On the other hand, traffickers take around Tk 50,000 per head for this pupose. As a result people easily become convinced by the traffickers.
Special superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Ashraful Islam said: "Human trafficking has become rampant due to lack of fresh opportunities for job seekers".
He said many Bangladeshi people want to go abroad for job but cannot get visa easily; as a result they fall prey to the trap of the traffickers.
He said the law enforcement departments are well aware of the situation.
He said the specialised wing of the Bangladesh Police is conducting drives at several spots to stop human trafficking through the maritime route.

[email protected]