Traveling to Nepal does not require a prior visa. Instead, one can obtain a visa upon arrival. However, this convenience has inadvertently opened up Nepal as a new conduit for human trafficking into Europe.
The Bangladesh embassy in Kathmandu has voiced concerns over the rising trend of trafficking activities. Subsequently, following a letter from the embassy to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the administration has been spurred into action.
The ministry has directed the law enforcement agencies to block this route of human trafficking and apprehend those involved.
According to sources within the Security Services Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs, there has been a disturbing surge in cases involving Bangladeshi citizens falling prey to organized trafficking rings.
These gangs, operating primarily in Bangladesh's Comilla and Noakhali regions, entice people with promises of employment opportunities in various European countries.
They exploit the loopholes of on-arrival visas in Nepal by posing as tourist agents, only to deceive and subject their victims to extortion. Instances have been reported of victims being held captive, their passports confiscated, and their families forced to cough up money through coercion and threats.
Recently, the Security Services Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs held a meeting to address this issue.
During the meeting, the deputy secretary of Security Services Department (Outbound-1) disclosed incidents where 11 Bangladeshis were lured to Kathmandu on November 14 and 28 of the previous year with promises of employment in Romania.
Each victim was coerced into paying an advance of Tk5 lakh to members of the trafficking ring.
Subsequently, they were confined in a hotel, subjected to threats and physical violence, and an additional Tk3 lakh was extorted from them. The victims identified a man named Jubair as the mastermind behind this criminal operation.
Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal, said at the meeting: “Although it is possible to go to Europe by collecting a visa in this process, it is very risky. Moreover, it is insulting to the image of the country.”
He said the brokers detain visa hopefuls for 3-4 months upon their arrival in Nepal on tourist visas. Subsequently, after spending between Tk5 and 7 lakh, they are sent to Croatia. However, as opportunities for employment in Croatia are limited, these individuals then attempt to migrate to other European countries.
Additionally, he noted that individuals from various African countries also fall victim to similar schemes, further exacerbating the problem.
Chairing the meeting, Shahnara Khatun, additional secretary of the Security Services Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs, instructed all relevant authorities to raise public awareness regarding the perils of trafficking innocent citizens through illicit channels.
Measures were ordered to apprehend trafficking gangs operating both domestically and internationally, and swift legal action was mandated against their activities.
The Immigration Department was tasked with scrutinizing the intentions and documents of travelers bound for Nepal, with a caveat to avoid inconveniencing genuine travelers.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials said they are conducting surveillance missions to identify and dismantle human trafficking networks utilizing Nepal as a transit point. Simultaneously, immigration police are diligently scrutinizing travel documentation for individuals bound for Nepal.
An officer of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said that members of human trafficking gangs in Europe have been using different routes. Apart from Nepal, they regularly use the sea route through Libya on travel visas to Dubai.
“Members of these gangs are also being arrested at various times. But human trafficking cannot be completely stopped if the common people are not aware,” he added.
Atiqul Islam, additional deputy commissioner of police at DMP, said the police are taking action to locate and apprehend members of trafficking networks exploiting the Nepal route. “They will be brought to justice soon.”