BANGLADESH - WOMENS ISSUES

Police estimate more than 15,000 women and children are smuggled out of Bangladesh every year. ("Boys, rescued in India while being smuggled to become jockeys in camel races," www.elsiglo.com, 19 February 1998)

As of February 1998, there were 200 Bangladeshi children and women awaiting repatriation in different Indian shelters. ("Boys, rescued in India while being smuggled to become jockeys in camel races," www.elsiglo.com, 19 February 1998)

Bangladesh and Nepal are the main sources of trafficked children in south Asia. (Masako Iijima, "S. Asia urged to unite against child prostitution," Reuters, 19 June 1998)........

27,000 Bangladeshi women and children have been forced into prostitution in Indian brothels. (Centre for Women and Children Studies reports, "Women Forced into Indian Brothels," June 1998)

More than 200,000 Bangladeshi women were trafficked from 1990 to 1997, with 6,000 children trafficked, abducted or reported missing during that time. (Center for Women and Children’s Study report, Zahiduzzaman Faruque, "Women, children trafficking in Bangladesh," Kyodo, 5 May 1998)

Over the last decade, 200,000 Bangladeshi girls were lured under false circumstances and sold into the sex industry in nations including Pakistan, India and the Middle East. (Tabibul Islam, "Rape of Minors Worry Parents," Inter Press Service, 8 April 1998)

A non-government source reports that about 200,000 women and children have been trafficked to the Middle East in the last 20 years. Different human rights activists and agencies estimate 200-400 young women and children are smuggled out every month, most of them from Bangladesh to Pakistan. A women lawyers' association estimates that on an average, 4500 women and children from Bangladesh are being trafficked to Pakistan each year and at least 200,000 women have been trafficked to Pakistan over the last 10 years. The Indian Social Welfare Board estimates that there are 500,000 foreign prostitutes in India - 1 percent are from Bangladesh and 2.7% of prostitutes in Calcutta are from Bangladesh. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)

More than 15,000 women and children are trafficked out of Bangladesh every year. (Police estimates, http://www.webpage.com/hindu/daily/980220/03/03200004.htm 19 February 1998)

Every day, over 50 women and children are trafficked out of Bangladesh through the land border areas. (Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, UBINIG, p.8, 1995)

500 Bangladeshi women are illegally transported into Pakistan every day. (Press Statement, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, "Open sale of little girls at Tanbaza brothel," Daily Star, 2 July 1998)

About 200 Bangladeshi women and children are smuggled out of the country each day, most end up as prostitutes. Many of the women and children are extremely poor, and lured with false promises. ("Human Smuggling from Banglsdesh at alarming level," Reuters, 26 may 1997)

In Bangladesh, the collection points for trafficked women are usually far from the border points. Women rescued in Dinajpur (in the North) were from Cox’s Bazar (in the South). Girls from the southern part of Bangladesh are usually trafficked across the northern borders. (Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.19, UBINIG, 1995)

During the past ten years an organized gang sold more than 10,000 women from Chapainababong to traffickers. A young girl was sold by her mother to a trafficker for 10,000 takas. Families are targeted who have daughters eligible for marriage and are very poor. There is a demand for Bangladeshi girls. (Daily Sangbad report, 16 August 1993, Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp.34, 35 & 36, Daily Sangbad, 16 August 1993, UBINIG, 1995)

30,000 Bangladeshi women are in brothels in Calcutta, India. ("Human Smuggling from Banglsdesh at alarming level," Reuters, 26 may 1997)

In 1994, 2,000 Bangladeshi women were prostituted in 6 cities in India. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)

There are 200 trafficked Bangladeshi women and children in detention centers in India awaiting repatriation. (http://www.webpage.com/hindu/daily/980220/03/03200004.htm, 19 February 1998)

Between January 1990 and September 1997, there were 2,545 cases of trafficked children reported in the media in Bangladesh - 1,262 boys and 1,283 girls. During the same time period, 2,212 trafficked children were rescued. (President of the Centre for Women and Children Studies, Ishrat Shamin, "Trafficking in Women and Children: A Human Rights Crisis)

Between January 1990 and September 1997, there were 845 cases of kidnapped children reported in the media in Bangladesh. 512 or 84% were rescued. (President of the Centre for Women and Children Studies, Ishrat Shamin, "Trafficking in Women and Children: A Human Rights Crisis)

74 people, including 14 children, were rescued from Satkhira, en route to the border to India. The traffickers had taken 2000 to 5000 takas from each person. (Dainik Bangla report, 8 October1993, Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.33, Dainik Bangla, 8 October 1993, UBINIG, 1995)

The price for girls is between Tk. 10,000 to Tk. 30,000 for beautiful and healthy girls. Children are bought for Tk. 7,000 to Tk. 8,000. (Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp. 20 &21, UBINIG, 1995)

2.7% of prostitutes in India are Bangladeshi, the largest population of foreigners. The majority of these females are under 18. (Social Welfare Board of India, Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")

Between January 1990 and September 1997, there were 2,662 cases of missing children reported in the media in Bangladesh. Only 228 missing children, or 9 percent, were rescued. (President of the Centre for Women and Children Studies, Ishrat Shamin, "Trafficking in Women and Children: A Human Rights Crisis)

Children from middle class families risk kidnapping from schools and being trafficking to Middle Eastern countries. (Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.9, UBINIG, 1995)

10,000 Bangladeshi children are in brothels in Bombay and Goa India. (Trafficking Watch Bangladesh, "Human Smuggling from Banglsdesh at alarming level," Reuters, 26 may 1997)

Traffickers use 20 main points in 16 western districts of Bangladesh near the Indian border. The main trafficking route is Dhaka-Mumbai-Karachi-Dubai. Many of the victims end up in Middle East nations. (Zahiduzzaman Faruque "Women, children trafficking in Bangladesh" Kyodo, 5 May 1998)

In India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, child marriage is accepted, and considered the best method to procure girls for prostitution. (Indrani Sinha, SANLAAP India, "Paper on Globalization and Human Rights")

Forms of trafficking include fake marriages, sale by parents to "uncles" offering jobs, auctions to brothel owners or farmers, abduction. Traffickers and procurers pose as prospective husbands to impoverished families. They take the girls away and sell them into prostitution. A large number of "brides" have been collected in this manner and brought as a group to Pakistan where they are handed over to local traffickers. (CATW - Asia Pacific "Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific" (24)

Bangladeshi women have been auctioned off to farmers looking for a combination wife and farmhand in Pakistan, India and Japan (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)

Bangladeshi women who are trafficked and prostituted in debt bondage in India's sex industry are forced to work longer hours and serve more men than local women. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)

In May 1998, 217 Bangladeshi women and children who had been trafficked into India were repatriated. (Zahiduzzaman Faruque,"Women, children trafficking in Bangladesh," Kyodo, 5 May 1998)

In 1992, 74 Bangladeshi women and children on their way to be sold in Pakistan were found bound and gagged in the cargo hold of a boat. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)

One trafficker was arrested and 46 people (12 male, 9 female and 25 children) from Jessore were rescued by police as they were being trafficked by bus across the border into India. All were held in police custody. (Ittefak report, 16 June 1993, Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp.31 & 32, Ittefak, 16 June 1993, UBINIG, 1995)

49 men, women and children from Cox’s Bazar were rescued and 2 traffickers were arrested by Savar Police. The people were sent to safe custody and the traffickers were placed under police remand for three days. Each person had paid the traffickers 3-4 thousand taka to assist them across the border via Godagari, Rajshahi, Benalope and Jessore. Middle aged men and women would be taken to hospitals in Bombay and Madras, and their blood, kidneys, eyes, skin and hair would be sold to hospitals. The young girls would be sold to the brothels in Pakistan and India. Young men would be sold as bonded laborers. The traffickers prefer young girls and children. For each young girl (the traffickers) are paid 10-12 thousand taka and for each child they are paid 7-8 thousand taka. (Ittefak report, 28 October 1993, Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, pp.32 & 33, Ittefak, 28 October 1993, UBINIG, 1995)

Convicted traffickers can receive the death penalty. Only one person has received this sentence. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)

The Penal Code of 1860 contains provisions for kidnapping, which in general covers trafficking also. Inspite of there being provisions in the Penal Code, these were not being effective in stopping trafficking because of various implementation problems. In 1983 a new Ordinance, the Cruelty to Women (Deterrent Punishment) Ordinance was promulgated. It replaced the relevant sections of the Penal Code. This law increased the punishment to life imprisonment and death penalty for kidnapping or abducting women, trafficking of women and children, attempt to cause death, acid throwing, rape etc. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)

The Cruelty to Women Ordinance, passed in 1983, calls for sentences of 14 years to life imprisonment for kidnapping or abduction of women, but this is rarely carried out, as there are many loopholes. (Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.21, UBINIG, 1995)

In 1995 another law, the Woman and Child Repression (Special Provisions) Act 1995 was enacted. It provides for capital punishment to offenders. It debars the granting of bail to persons accused of heinous offenses against women and children. The penalty imposed in section 8 of this act for trafficking and associated offenses is life imprisonment and fine. Section 9 stipulates a penalty of 10 years with a minimum of 7 years imprisonment for abduction to commit immoral act on women and children. This Act provides for the setting up of separate courts to try cases coming under it, one in each district. So far ten such courts have been established. It is proposed to review their performance and effectiveness before setting up the courts in other districts. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)

The process of repatriation for victims of traffic, who are often held in jail where they are continuously abused and re-victimized, is lengthy due to a general lack of action and interest of Bangladeshi embassies, and the bureaucracy between the Ministries of Women and Child Affairs, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Social Welfare. (Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")

Hundreds, and maybe thousands, of Bangladeshi women and children are held in foreign prisons, jails, shelters and detention centers awaiting repatriation. Many have been held for years. In India, 26 women, 27 girls, 71 boys and 13 children of unknown gender are held in Lilua Shelter, Calcutta; Sheha Shelter, Calcutta; Anando Ashram, Calcutta; Alipur Children's Home, Delhi; Nirmal Chaya Children's Home, Delhi; Prayas Observation House for Boys; Delhi; Tihar Jail, Delhi; Udavam Kalanger, Bangalore; Umar Khadi, Bangaore; Kishalay, West Bengal; Kuehbihar, West Bengal and Baharampur, West Bengal. (Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")

In July 1993 a case was filed against a woman, who trafficked three young girls to India in previous months. (Bhorer Kagoj, 29 October 1993, Trafficking in Women and Children: The Cases of Bangladesh, p.28, Bhorer Kagoj, 29 October 1993, UBINIG, 1995)

Although laws against trafficking exist, their implementation remains weak. Although the new laws have increased penalties their application has certain technical problems which are in the process of being identified. There is scope for misapplication and harassment of innocent persons. The law enforcing authorities and the judiciary need to be better sensitized about the issues involved. There is a need for stronger action against members of law enforcing authorities who are themselves involved in trafficking. Regional cooperation is essential to coordinate legal and administrative measures and procedures. Information needs to be shared and extradition of offenders allowed. Victims are sometimes charged with prostitution or immoral behaviour and put in jail. The repatriation of Bangladeshi women trafficked abroad needs to be facilitated. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)

More than 9,000 girls are trafficked each year from Nepal and Bangladesh into bondage in India and Pakistan, often with the acquiescence or cooperation of state officials. (http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/releases/22_april_1998-0.shtml, 22 April 1998)

Trafficking is carried out by regional gangs who are well organized and who have links with the various law enforcing agencies, which is why only a very small percentage of the traffickers are caught or the victims recovered. (Bangladesh CEDAW Report, 1 April 1997)

In Bangladesh, there are 60,000 -100,000 people in prostitution. (Government, CARE Bangladesh, (Wijaya Kannangara, Executive International Division Sarvodaya Movement of Sri Lanka, "Paper on Cultural Violation")

Approximately 1 million men buy prostituted women and children in Bangladesh. (Wijaya Kannangara, Executive International Division Sarvodaya Movement of Sri Lanka, "Paper on Cultural Violation")

65 percent of 135 surveyed women and girls in brothels in Bangladesh were between age 11 and 13; 33 percent were between age 13 and 15. (BNWLA survey, police estimates, Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")

There are 15,000 to 20,000 children in street prostitution in Dhaka, most of whom are in prostitution before reaching 12 years of age. (BNWLA survey, police estimates, Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")

Bangladeshi women, who have been in prostitution, fear and risk being killed by their own families through honor-killings. (CATW - Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific)

The Tanbazar brothel in Narayanganj is a market for the sale of minor girls. At least 50 minors were kept hidden in the brothel, and when discovered, police did not attempt to help the girls imprisoned there or arrest the owners. (Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, "Open sale of little girls at Tanbaza brothel," Daily Star, 2 July 1998)

The promotion of Export Processing Zones, which follow special laws on all forms of violence, encourages industries of child prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation. (Fawzia Karim Firoze and Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")

In Bangladesh, the justice system entitles a sexual offender to a privileged position, which is a major contributor into forcing women into silence. (Sigma Huda, "Laws and Legislation Relating to Sexual Exploitation")

Government and health officials deny services to prostituted women and their children on the sole basis that the woman is in prostitution. ("Govts urged to be more active against trafficking of women, children," Dhaka Daily Star, 30 June 1998)

A large percentage of the 120,000 women in the garment industry suffer sexual exploitation. There is no legislation protecting workers in the informal sector laws (Fawzia Karim Firoze & Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")

During the 1971 war in Bangladesh, 200,000 women and girls were sexually abused and raped by soldiers. (Sigma Huda, "Laws and Legislation Relating to Sexual Exploitation")

Self appointed village bodies have issued fatwas against women for "incorrect behavior." In several cases women have been violently punished and murdered. (Fawzia Karim Firoze and Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")

Muslim and Bangladeshi state laws prohibit the marriage of girl children. This prohibition is ignored and the practice defended by state and religious leaders, especially in rural areas where girls as young as 10 are illegally married. (Fawzia Karim Firoze and Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")

Women held in "safe custody" and other forms of confinement are often abused, raped and murdered by law enforcement officials. (Fawzia Karim Firoze and Salma Ali of the Bangladesh National Women Layer Association," Bangladesh Country Paper: Law and Legislation")

In 1997, 21 Bangladeshi women reported being raped by police officers, 7 of whom were in custody. ('Ain-o-Salish Kendra NGO records, Tabibul Islam, "Rape of Minors Worry Parents," Inter Press Service, 8 April 1998)

In October 1996, Shima Chowdhury and her boyfriend, Abdul Hafiz were arrested for walking together in public without being married. The police did not keep a record of the arrest, and held them both without allowing them to be seen by a court, which is illegal. While detained, Shima was drugged and raped to the point of unconsciousness. In July 1997 in Bangladesh four policemen were acquitted of raping Shima Chowdhury. She died in "safe custody" under mysterious circumstances after reporting the rape. "Safe custody" is used by police for victims of rape, sexual assault, trafficking and kidnapping. It purports to provide safety for those in danger of further assault, but in reality it is a form of punishment. The women are kept with other prisoners and are treated as if they are charged with, or convicted for, an offence. ("Bangladesh: Failure by state protects alleged rapist," AI Index, 13 May 1997)

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