human trafficking
Trafficking Report: Bangladesh still on Tier 2
The government of Bangladesh has demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity, says a US report.
The report titled “2021 Trafficking in Persons Report” said Bangladesh remained on Tier 2.
The report mentioned Bangladesh’s efforts that included initiating more prosecutions, particularly of labor traffickers; beginning to operate its trafficking tribunals; and collaborating with foreign governments on a transnational trafficking case.
Also read: US committed to work with Bangladesh to end trafficking-in-persons: Miller
The government also opened an investigation into—and Parliament revoked the seat of—a member of Parliament involved in bribing a Kuwaiti official to fraudulently send more than 20,000 Bangladeshi migrant workers to Kuwait, said the report in its Bangladesh part.
The government also reported it funded 95 percent of its national action plan to fight human trafficking. However, the US report says, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.
The number of convictions decreased, while law enforcement continued to deny credible reports of official complicity in trafficking, forced labor and sex trafficking of Rohingya, and child sex trafficking, including in licensed brothels, and did not demonstrate efforts to identify victims or investigate these persistent reports, said the report released by the US Department of State.
The government continued to allow recruiting agencies to charge high recruitment fees to migrant workers and did not consistently address illegally operating recruitment sub-agents, leaving workers vulnerable to traffickers and victim care remained insufficient, it said.
Officials did not consistently implement victim identification procedures or refer identified victims to care, and the government did not have shelters or adequate services for adult male victims, the report claimed.
Also read: Dhaka for close partnership at all levels to combat trafficking in persons
The report mentioned that the government of Bangladesh does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.
The report recommended increasing prosecutions and convictions for trafficking offenses, particularly of labor traffickers and complicit government officials, while respecting due process.
It also urged the Bangladesh government to take steps to eliminate recruitment fees charged to workers by licensed labor recruiters and ensure employers pay recruitment fees.
The report also recommended increasing investigations and prosecutions of credible allegations of trafficking of Rohingya, including cases that do not involve movement.
Also read: Collective action sought to combat human trafficking
HC rejects writ challenging gazette on Papul’s MP post
The High Court on Tuesday rejected a writ petition filed by ex-Laxmipur-2 lawmaker Shahid Islam Papul's sister challenging the gazette notification that declared the MP’s seat vacant.
The bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order after hearing a writ filed by Papul's sister Nurunnahar Begum, said deputy attorney general Nouroz M Russel Chowdhury.
Read: Order on writ against declaring Papul's parliamentary seat vacant Tuesday
On January 28, a Kuwait court sentenced Papul to four years' jail in a case related to human trafficking, residency visa trading and money laundering. He was also fined around 1.9 million Kuwaiti dinars.
On 6 June last year, Papul was arrested in Kuwait.
On August 16 of the same year, Abul Fayez Bhuiyan, an independent candidate from the Laxmipur-2 constituency, filed a writ petition challenging the legality of Papul's parliament membership as he had been accused of providing fake documents and submitting fake education certificates.
Read: MP Papul’s parliamentary seat declared vacant
On February 22 this year, parliament declared the Lakshmipur-2 constituency vacant following the conviction of Papul on charges of human trafficking and money laundering by a court in Kuwait.
The Parliament Secretariat issued a gazette notification declaring that the Laxmipur-2 constituency (Parliamentary Seat-275) fell vacant on January 28, 2021, the date of the court's sentence.
According to the gazette, Papul is ineligible to remain an MP under Article 66 (2) of the Constitution as he was sentenced by the Kuwaiti criminal court to four-year rigorous imprisonment on January 28.
Read:MP Papul’s conviction: Govt receives verdict copy
His seat has remained vacant since the date of the court's sentence according to Article 67 (1) of the Constitution, said the gazette signed by Senior Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan.
MP Papul, who won the Lakshmipur-2 seat in the 2018 election as an independent candidate, is now in Kuwait jail.
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MP Papul’s conviction: Govt receives verdict copy
The government has recently received the copy of a 61-page verdict of Bangladeshi MP Mohammad Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul’s conviction in Kuwait in a case related to human trafficking, residency visa trading and money laundering.
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MP Papul jailed for 4 years in Kuwait
A Kuwait court on Thursday sentenced Laxmipur-2 independent MP Mohammad Shahid Islam Papul to four years’ jail in a case related to human trafficking, residency visa trading and money laundering.
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Law Minister seeks coordinated response against human trafficking
Stating that human trafficking is a rapidly evolving crime, Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday said that a comprehensive and well-coordinated response is required to fight it.
S Korea working with IOM to address common challenges in Bangladesh
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Dancer Ivan put on 7-day remand in human trafficking case
A Dhaka court on Monday placed national award winning dancer and choreographer Ivan Shahriar Sohag on a seven-day remand in a human trafficking case.