Dhaka, Bangladesh 14 December 2021 – Can you describe yourself in a couple of sentences? I joined the Bangladesh Police as a sub-inspector in 2010 and have been working at CID Bangladesh since 2020 as an inspector. This is my second term with the CID. Previously I worked with CID from 2016 to 2018. I grew up in Chandpur, Bangladesh and have completed my bachelor and master’s in education. To start with, I wanted to be a teacher and worked in schools before joining the Bangladesh Police. Initially, I didn't want to join due to my negative perception regarding the role of a police officer. Then a friend of mine told me that doing something positive in a negative environment creates a bigger impact. His words inspired me to join the police. I always give my best as a police officer and was also one of the youngest receivers of the President Police Medal (PPM) for recovering 300 stolen bikes in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
What motto do you live by?
Working as a police officer in Bangladesh is a tough job. I've suffered injuries while on duty, but the more challenging aspect of it is missing out on my time with my family. For instance, when my wife gave birth to our first child, I couldn't be with her because I was engaged in hartal duty. There are many more similar incidents, but I always tell myself that I'm serving the nation and the people. This noble purpose motivates me to continue working through difficulties.
Tell us about a time when you were part of a human trafficking investigation
I've been working on human trafficking cases since 2020, and within this short time, I've encountered multiple transnational cases. I was involved in victim recovery cases from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. These victims were in a shocking state; smuggled in cargo ships and trafficked for sexual exploitation in nightclubs. We were able to rescue them with the help of Interpol, but it was time-consuming. We had no alternative because we could not directly contact the police force of the destination country.
Other challenges we face include incorrect address of the parties in a case and lack of a transparent bail policy. During a recent investigation, I found the accused attempting to traffic another girl while out on bail. I caught them at the boarding area of the airport, and I could have easily missed them if I had been a minute late.
I also think there is a gap amongst regulatory authorities. Utilizing this gap, traffickers and smugglers often abuse the visit visa procedure. Establishing a central agency on smuggling and trafficking may be one way to tackle this problem. Such an agency could also ensure cyber monitoring and support transnational investigations focusing on human trafficking and smuggling. I also think it could help in identifying irregular recruiting agencies to take action against them.
Meanwhile, I believe visit visas could also include provisions for police clearance and mandatory bank statements so that the traffickers and smugglers cannot misuse the visit visas. I empathize with the plight of trafficking victims and vulnerable migrants; frequently, they have low literacy levels and are desperate for jobs. The smugglers and traffickers who exploit these vulnerabilities must be prosecuted and convicted.
What are the main takeaways from your engagement with UNODC?
The training was beneficial, and I appreciated the translated training materials. Personally, I learnt a lot from the focused session on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and the Smuggling of Migrants (SOM). The difference between these two crimes is significant in my work, and I hope UNODC can organize investigation simulations on these crimes for inspectors. Moreover, interaction with victims and providing them with a platform to share their experiences would also enlighten investigating officers.
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The Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants - Bangladesh (GLO.ACT - Bangladesh) is a joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). GLO.ACT-Bangladesh builds on a global community of practice set in motion in GLO.ACT 2015-2019 in 13 partner countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
Through targeted, innovative and demand-driven interventions, the GLO.ACT aims to support the Government of Bangladesh and civil society organizations to more effectively fight the crimes of human trafficking and migrant smuggling across the country. The project works on developing evidence-based information on trafficking and smuggling patterns and trends, legislative review and harmonization, capability development of criminal justice actors, and international cooperation. The project also provides direct assistance to victims of human trafficking and migrants in vulnerable situations through the strengthening of identification, referral, and protection mechanisms. The project is fully committed to mainstreaming Human Rights and Gender Equality considerations across all of its activities.
The project is funded by the European Union.
For more information, please contact:
Mahdy Hassan: muhammad.hassan@un.org
unodc-glo.act@un.org
GLO.ACT Bangladesh
Twitter: @glo_act
