IT is concerning that, according to the US State Department’s ‘Trafficking in Persons Report’ released on Thursday, Bangladesh has once again failed to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking.
Citing the report, newspapers have stated that although Bangladesh has intensified its overall anti-trafficking efforts compared to the previous year, its standing on the index remains unchanged at Tier 2.
It is to be noted that Bangladesh, for the seventh consecutive year, has remained in the same position in the United States’ report on human trafficking.
It has consistently failed to take effective measures to combat human trafficking over this period.
It is worth noting that the United States publishes an annual report assessing the standing of various countries regarding their efforts to prevent human trafficking.
Countries that meet the minimum standards prescribed by U.S. law are placed in Tier 1.
While countries that have failed to meet the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts are placed in the third tier.
However, remaining at the same position on an international index for over half a decade implies that, while there may not have been a decline in that specific area, there has been no improvement either.
Furthermore-regardless of what the United States claims-there has been no progress in taking effective measures to combat human trafficking.
This situation persists at a time when traffickers hold thousands of people hostages every year by luring them with promises of high-paying jobs in developed nations, subsequently extorting vast sums of money from these unfortunate victims through abuse and torture, thereby leaving their entire families destitute.
Moreover, many Bangladeshis lose their lives while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea or treacherous forests and jungles along routes facilitated by traffickers.
This situation tarnishes the country’s international image, inevitably casting a negative impact on the remittance-dependent national economy.
Against this backdrop, we believe it is essential to examine not only the factors cited for Bangladesh’s failure to improve its standing in the US report but also to take robust remedial measures.
Although the government enacted the Ordinance on the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling, 2026, weaknesses persist in its practical implementation.
Consequently, fewer human traffickers have been convicted, and the government has failed to take adequate measures to curb human trafficking. As a result, the prevalence of such crimes remains widespread.
We expect the government to take the report into account and promptly initiate measures to punish human traffickers and ensure the protection of citizens. Concerned citizens must also remain consistently vocal about this issue.