Rights
monitor
Report
on Anti-Trafficking
Speedy
disposal possible with due care and attention
Sultana
Razia
The
report on anti-trafficking measures prepared by the Home
Ministry is the first of its kind in the history of Bangladesh.
In the press conference held on March 16, 2005, Home Secretary
Omar Farook briefed the press about the report.
Measures
taken
To promote and protect human rights, especially the rights
of children and women, initiatives were taken to combat
trafficking and to this end the following measures were
taken:
*Establishment of a Monitoring Cell at the police headquarters.
*Setting up of different committees at the national and
district levels.
*Monitoring of selected cases relating to trafficking
.
*Screening of persons at all airports and land ports.
*Rescue and recovery of trafficked persons.
*Rehabilitation of trafficked persons and subsequent monitoring.
*Apprehension of traffickers by the law enforcers .
*Reparation of trafficked persons.
*Awareness creation and motivation against trafficking
in women and children.
*Regular flow of timely and correct information.
Achieved
results
For the regular monitoring and administrative strictness
following results were achieved:
*Regular flow of timely and correct information were coming
in a regular basis
*For the quick disposal of cases Special Tribunal was
setting up all over the country to deal with the cases
relating trafficking. From 15 June 2004 the committee
was started working. Since then 86 cases were taken up,
72 cases have already been disposed of and of this, 48
cases ended in conviction while 24 cases ended in acquittal.
Remaining 14 cases, yet to be disposed with in this month.
But certainly these speedy trail didn't hamper the quality
of justice nor the judicial process is interrupted.
How
is speedy disposal possible?
For prompt disposal of the cases Farook said, "Witnesses
and the accused were produced before the court in time.
There was continuous trail of cases, that is, for each
activity in the court like, examination of witnesses and
accused, and arguments, the court sat continuously."
For speedy disposal of cases, the numbers of pending cases
were reduced. Thus the total number of pending cases was
571 in June 2004 while it was 481 in March 2005. This
is a great achievement!
For
the speedy mobilisation of the cases they also took the
help of law enforcing agencies and to escort victims and
witnesses officers were engaged instead of constables
and the officer in-charge of the area concerned was responsible
for the timely appearance of the victims in court.
The
three-stage screening process at the international airports
and land ports from June 15, 2004 to March 15, 2005 contributed
to the prevention of 777 persons including 38 women and
children from going abroad without valid documents. The
anti-trafficking measures also rescued 206 trafficked
persons including 100 women and 98 children.
Future
plans
The existing measures being taken for the quick disposal
of the cases will continue with renewed vigour, zeal and
determination. Training for the immigration officers has
been undertaken and prosecutors at different levels will
be further trained. Besides that motivational and awareness
programmes will also be arranged for religious leaders,
civil societies, members of the local government, members
of the law enforcement agencies etc.
The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs also plans to make strong
liaison with other countries, especially those receiving
trafficked women and children (particularly where children
are being used as camel jockeys). It will be further strengthened
and intensified to ensure effective cooperation to combat
the evil of trafficking in women and children and use
of children as camel jockeys.
It
should be mentioned that Bangladesh was in Tier-3 and
for the initiative of our government it was taken to Tier-2
again. Bangladesh has made significant progress in combating
trafficking in persons (TIP) in recent times, creating
a positive example in this regard, Omar Farooq said at
the press conference.
It
is the most systematic and institutional arrangement to
combat trafficking in women and children in Bangladesh
and obviously it is a united effort by our government
and some NGOs. It is an example to us and we hope it will
continue.
From
Law Desk.
