Bangladesh: Shaping a collaborative roadmap to counter human trafficking and migrant smuggling

Dhaka, Bangladesh/26 February 2025: The 2024 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons highlights a sobering reality—human trafficking remains a serious challenge in South Asia. In 2022 alone, over 8,000 victims were identified in the region, primarily women and boys, while another 2,200 victims from South Asian countries were detected in regions such as Europe and the Middle East. These numbers underscore the urgent need for strengthened national and international responses to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, two interlinked crimes that continue to exploit vulnerable populations.

In Bangladesh, trafficking and smuggling persist as significant concerns, exacerbated by socio-economic hardships, lack of employment opportunities, and the demand for cheap labor in neighboring countries and beyond. Criminal networks operate in secrecy, making detection and prosecution challenging despite government and civil society efforts.

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach, UNODC, in partnership with the European Union (EU), has launched the "Preventing and Addressing Trafficking in Human Beings and the Smuggling of Migrants in South Asia" initiative. As part of this critical effort, a National Consultation on the Inception of GLO.ACT South Asia was organized in Dhaka with the Ministry of Home Affairs, bringing together 32 stakeholders, including representatives from key ministries, law enforcement agencies, UN bodies and civil society organizations.

Through a series of in-depth discussions, participants analyzed the major challenges facing Bangladesh in addressing human trafficking and migrant smuggling. They explored strategic priorities and outlined a collaborative roadmap for implementing GLO.ACT South Asia effectively.

The discussions highlighted the necessity of strengthening victim identification mechanisms, enhancing data-sharing across agencies, and implementing survivor-centered approaches to ensure rehabilitation and reintegration. The consultation also placed a strong emphasis on the role of civil society and community awareness in tackling these crimes.  

The collaboration between UNODC, the EU, and national stakeholders signals a renewed commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and dismantling trafficking networks, offering hope for a future where exploitation no longer thrives.

This activity contributed to SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/

(Supported by the European Union)