Illegal Migration on the Rise: Trafficking Networks Must Be Stopped
Effective measures to curb such attempts are still not visible. Traffickers and sub-agents are deceiving young people with false promises of a better life and pushing them into illegal and life-threatening routes—this must stop immediately. The first step should be to identify and eliminate the travel agencies and middlemen involved in such crimes and bring every offender under the law. We believe people must also be made aware of the deadly risks of these journeys so that they do not fall for false promises and attempt to go abroad illegally for employment.
Three Bangladeshi youths have once again lost their lives while attempting to travel abroad illegally. With the aim of reaching Italy by sea in a motorized boat, the three youths from Madaripur left home on 8 October after paying a hefty amount of money to a human trafficking gang. Along the way, they were shot dead by mafia groups in the Mediterranean. Last year as well, eight Bangladeshi youths drowned at sea while trying to reach Italy through illegal routes. In fact, many Bangladeshis have, over the years, either perished at sea, been killed by mafia groups, or ended up in mass graves in remote jungles—all because of falling prey to traffickers who lure them into perilous and illegal journeys abroad. Despite frequent media reports on such tragedies, these dangerous attempts have not stopped.
Effective measures to curb such attempts are still not visible. Traffickers and sub-agents are deceiving young people with false promises of a better life and pushing them into illegal and life-threatening routes—this must stop immediately. The first step should be to identify and eliminate the travel agencies and middlemen involved in such crimes and bring every offender under the law. We believe people must also be made aware of the deadly risks of these journeys so that they do not fall for false promises and attempt to go abroad illegally for employment.
The information revealed in the “Trafficking in Persons Report 2025” by the United States—regarding human trafficking from Bangladesh—is highly alarming. According to the report, 3,410 individuals from Bangladesh were deceived by traffickers over the past year. Among them, 765 were victims of sex trafficking, 2,572 were subjected to forced labor, and 73 were victims of unspecified forms of trafficking. Various individuals and groups at multiple levels are involved in these crimes. Sub-agents lure people with promises and supply workers to recruiting agencies. Many who fall for such deceit end up facing horrific experiences abroad—some are forced into prostitution, some wander jobless, and others are detained in prisons for overstaying without legal documents. Some are held hostage and tortured to extract ransom. Many spend large sums of money to go abroad only to discover there is no job waiting for them. It is alleged that, although cases are filed under the anti–human trafficking law, most accused individuals are acquitted and eventually return to the same crimes. As a result, human trafficking continues to rise. Experts say flaws and negligence in investigations, slow proceedings, and prolonged trials are key reasons behind these acquittals. In some cases, out-of-court settlements also allow perpetrators to escape justice.
To tackle this situation, stronger preventive measures must be prioritized. At the same time, awareness needs to be raised across all levels of society. While investigating cases filed by victims, law enforcement agencies should look into the true identities of those involved in trafficking, the trafficking routes, and other relevant details, and ensure that trial delays are avoided.
This article is written by popular writer, journalist, social worker, and apprentice lawyer Soyeb Sikder (LLB, LLM, The People’s University of Bangladesh).