Patuakhali, Bangladesh 23 October 2023 – Due to the geographical location and accompanying risk factors, Bangladesh is identified as a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM). The First National Study on Trafficking in Persons in Bangladesh noted that traffickers make use of the same sea routes as migrant smugglers, with victims leaving from the ports along the southern sea border in the Bay of Bengal.
One of the objectives of the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants-Bangladesh (GLO.ACT-Bangladesh) project of UNODC is to enhance the capacity of criminal justice practitioners and relevant officials to combat TIP and SOM in Bangladesh. Moreover, recognizing the increasing usage of sea routes by traffickers and smugglers, GLO.ACT-Bangladesh collaborated with UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) to facilitate 2-day session on TIP and SOM as part of a GMCP Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) Course for officials of the Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) on 22 – 23 October 2023. The objective of VBSS courses, with a standard duration of two weeks, is to allow participants to successfully execute safe and legally sound maritime law enforcement operations that are compliant with national and international laws and standards, in line with the areas of jurisdiction of the trained law enforcement agencies.
GLO.ACT-Bangladesh facilitated the sessions on TIP and SOM highlighting legal regime and good practices on national, regional and international level. Legal aspects of TIP and SOM by sea were discussed in depth covering the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and maritime laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Building on the session on international framework, the domestic legal regime on TIP and SOM session aimed to aware the participants on international agreements signed by Government of Bangladesh, ascertain BCG’s jurisdiction to respond to TIP and SOM cases, develop a strong understanding of the TIP law in Bangladesh and identify the responsibility of BCG officials as per the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012.
Along with investigation and trial procedure, the trends and patterns on TIP were shared with the participants. During the group exercise, which was a factual scenario on identifying vessel facilitating TIP and SOM during patrols, the responses from the participants were commendable showcasing high level of knowledge. The following observations were noted from the response of the participants:
The training took place at BCG Base Agrajatra which is located in Patuakhali, Bangladesh. 12 participants from BCG joined the course.
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.
This project is funded by the European Union.
For more information about GLO.ACT-Bangladesh, please contact:
Mahdy Hassan, National Programme Coordinator
unodc-glo.act@un.org
GLO.ACT Bangladesh
X: @glo_act
For more information about GMCP in Bangladesh, please contact: Mosabbir Hossain (mosabbir.hossain@un.org).