The CID and Rights Jessore NGO have announced the repatriation of over 100 victims of human trafficking from Iran and the arrests of a number of traffickers.
Investigations indicate that Bangladeshi criminal godfathers have been operating an Iran-based human trafficking network involving at least 300 traffickers for over 20 years.
The network lures workers to Iran with false offers of jobs in Europe and takes them hostage in order to extort ransoms from their relatives in Bangladesh. The cartels collude with locals to confine them in Iran, while collecting ransom payments through money transfer facilities.
We welcome reports that the police intend to set up a temporary camp in Iran to enable more victims to make complaints so that they can be followed up through Interpol and local police to help break up the network and arrest more of the gang leaders.
The government needs to take more such action to stamp out the criminals who prey on human vulnerability.
It must make it a top priority to stamp out the scourge of human trafficking. This needs tougher regulation and enhanced international co-operation by our diplomatic representatives abroad.
The Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training needs to strengthen its enforcement of licensing requirements. It should initiate audits of where workers are recruited and employed, so that abuses and criminal actions can be identified more quickly and stopped.
There must be no tolerance for rogue behaviour by manpower agencies.
