Cheated migrants demand protection of law

Cheated by traffickers in their quest for jobs abroad, victim migrants demanded Wednesday of the government to go for enforcement of 'The Overseas Employment and Migration Act 2013' immediately for protecting them.
They made the demand at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the city, against the backdrop of some grim tragedies at the hands of such bands of traffickers, at a time when official manpower export is facing a setback.
The victims pointed out that although the government has kept tough punitive provision in the new act, they have yet to get its benefit. However, the victims are being given compensation according to the Immigration Ordinance 1982.
The press conference was jointly organised by Peer Leader and Anirban, two voluntary organisations for campaigning against human trafficking.      
Citing the police monitoring cell information, they mentioned that a total of 780 people had been trafficked in many ways till May 2014. A total of 191 cases were filed and 693 rescued.  
Besides, some 1,343 Bangladeshis were trafficked in 2013. Some 377 cases were filed and 1125 were rescued.
Dipta Rakshit , senior programme manager of Winrock International, Zillur Rahman, Director, programs, of Shikkha Shastha Unnayan Karzakram (SHISHUK), Nayan, Reshma, Ishak, Jahangir, Al-Amin, the members of Peer Leader and Anirban and other trafficking victims were present at the press meet.
The victims also placed seven-point demands and recommendations which include strengthening the committees on prevention of human trafficking by the authorities concerned.