View of INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONSHIP: A CASE STUDY OF WOMEN TRAFFICKING

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Vol. 05,Special Issue 03, (IC-WESD-2020) March 2020, Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE

INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONSHIP: A CASE STUDY OF WOMEN TRAFFICKING

1Gh Mohi Ud Din Parry

Ph.D Research Scholar, M.J.B.P.G. College, Indore

2Dr. Saroj Billore

Professor Department of Political Science, M.J.B.P.G. College, Indore

Abstract:- "Trafficking in persons" shall mean the recruitment, transport, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs."

Keywords:- Women, Trafficking, India, Bangladesh.

1. INTRODUCTION

Human trafficking is one of the most terrible type of exploitation on earth. In which men, women and children are bought, sold and forced to cross International borders. The domestic, social, political and financial conditions compelled the Asian women and children to an organized transnational traffickers as more and more children (mostly girls) and women are forced to work in order to support their families or themselves. They are being exploited on every step of life.

These women and children are being taken away from their home by way of fraud, abduction, auction, fake marriage, coercion, deception, abuse of power, in the hope of work etc. In the present era, cross-border trafficking of women, and minor girls for commercial sexual exploitation has become the most formidable challenge. It endangered the basic dignity of women besides exploiting them in the most disgraceful manner, destroying them socio-economically, physically and psychologically and in many other ways.

In simple terms, human trafficking is the buy and sell process of humans for the purpose of forced manual labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual abuse or others.

This may encompass providing a spouse in the context of forced marriage, or the extraction of organs or tissues, including for surrogacy and ovary removal human trafficking can occur within a country or trans-nationally. Particularly the least developed countries like Bangladesh human trafficking problem right now is one of the major issues.

1.1 Objectives of Study

The main objectives of the research study are given below as:- 1. To examine the Causes and Mode of Women Trafficking.

2. To analyse the measures taken by the Government to stop this social evil.

3. To find out the ways and means in order to solve the problem.

2. DATA BASE AND METHODOLOGY

The present study is mainly based on the secondary sources of data, collected from various Journals, Newspapers, Magazines, Books and Reports published by NGO Organizations. A case study research method is applied as it is a social problem.

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social evils like poverty, unemployment, domestic violence etc., which compelled them to cross the international border in search of good life . Human rights groups in Bangladesh approximation that between 10,000 and 20,000 women and girls are trafficked yearly to India, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

In Bangladesh, it is not only women and girls that are trafficked, but a significant number of boys and men are also trafficked internally and internationally for sexual exploitation. According to a recent survey women are bought and sold with impunity and trafficked at will to other countries from different parts of India. These girls and women are sourced from Dindigal, Madurai, Tiruchirapali, and Chengalputtu in Tamil Nadu, Gaya, Kishanganj, Patna, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, and Madhubani from Bihar, Murshidabad and 24 Parganas in West Bengal, Maharajgunj from UP, Dholpur, Alwar, Tonk from Rajasthan, Gulbarga and Raichur from Karnataka.

These girls are supplied to Thailand, Kenya, South Africa and Middle East countries like Bahrain, Dubai, Oman, Britain, South Korea and Philippines. There are ample number of reports published in newspaper regarding the trafficking incident. A huge number of girls and women are being trafficked from Bangladesh to India's state of West Bengal. Shantanu Guha Ray reports that over 500,000 women, including Rohingya girls, have been trafficked during the last decade from Bangladesh into West Bengal, turning the state into the world's worst human trafficking zone. Mohammad Jamil Khan reports that in most cases, the victims from different parts of Bangladesh are gathered at small huts built by the traffickers near Benapole border.

They are treated there nicely and given the impression they would actually go to India for better future. Neeraj Chauhan reports (Time of India, Jan10, 2018) that around 50,000 Bangladeshi girls are trafficked to or through India every year and around 5 lakh Bangladeshi women and children aged 12 to 30 years have been illegally sent to India in the last decade. According to Neeraj, "human trafficking from Bangladeshi to India has grown to such a magnitude that it now works directly on the principle of demand and supply with a well lubricated machinery of touts working on both sides of the border with the first link in the chain being Dhaka".

From the Indian, the human trafficking groups functioning in various states of India raise their demand to touts in Bangladesh directly or through agents in Kolkata, following which the syndicate based on the other side of border supply the victims. The Indian group demands young girls and women mostly for brothels, low grade hotels for prostitution, dance bars, massage parlours, employment as domestic workers, and forced marriages besides feeding the market for unskilled or semi-skilled labour. As per reports in published in various newspapers,' there are agents and sub-agents who have contacts with people in border villages.

Among them 84% of these touts are male and 16% are female. These agents motivates the people by promising them a better life in India with good jobs, household work, offering work in movies, false promises of marriage other than abducting young girls.

In Bangladesh these touts typically look for girls from poor and vulnerable families n Bangladesh. However, due to poverty in Bangladesh these agents gets their target easily at bus stands and railways stations across the country. Neeraj Chauhan reports (Time of India, Jan10, 2018) that the other districts of Bangladesh- Kurigram, Lalmonnirhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Thakugaon, Dinajppur, Naogaon, Chapai Nawabganj and Rajshahi are also used for human trafficking

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Source: the dailystar.net 3.1 Trafficking Routes

As per the report published in daily star (Mohammad Jamil Khan) the victims and the local law enforcers, the traffickers use Putkhali, Sadipur, Boro Achra, and Gathipara points of Jashore to traffic the victims into India without passports. the victims are first taken to Jashore and then to the border points by motorbikes before they are kept in the small huts.

According to Jamil," Local and law enforcers said that each of the border points is run by local ruling party men.

They pay hefty amounts to law enforcers to run the trafficking activities identity”. In recent times, the traffickers have changed techniques. Now they get their prey across the border using the "legal" channel. The traffickers make fake documents like a marriage certificate and a passport of women. Then they cross the border like a couple going on a trip to India. Some girls are trafficked through fake relations like a trafficker marry a girl before selling her to a brothel in India.

3.2 Causes of Human Trafficking

1. Poverty:- Poverty is the main factor of human trafficking. Poverty compelled a person to taken any step in order to get out of the curse of poverty. The traffickers took the advantage of victim's helplessness and entrap the victims in their nets. The traffickers give the victim a hope of a good life in foreign country. Thus, these people gets trapped in their nets easily.

2. Political instability:- Political instability also increase the chance of human trafficking as well. The destabilization and scattering of population increase their vulnerability to unfair treatment and abuse via trafficking and forced labour.

3. War:- A large number of children who have lost their family members in war are vulnerable to trafficking, Armed conflicts lead to massive gross displacement of

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having very few alternatives, the business owners never cease to practise these illegal norms.

3.3 Effects of Trafficking on the Victim

 Health Effects: There are certain reports which claim that 80% of trafficking are sexually abused or forced into prostitution as most victims are quite young girls.

Such a victim probably might have to cater to anywhere between 8 to 15 clients in a day. The use of sexual protection is negligible in this industry, leaving them at high risk of contracting various sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS that they further pass on to the men and their partners. These women sometimes are forced to take drugs.

 Physiological effect: Most traffickers recruit their victims between the ages of 6 to 24, because a young victim will easily succumb to force and give in. They are forced into heavy physical labour in unsafe environment. According to statistics by the U.S.

Department of State, globally, 2 million women are trafficked into the sex trade each year.

 Societal Effects: The victims may be used as bonded labour in their own country whereupon arrival, their passport and migration documents are taken away from them, leaving them helpless and immobile. Unfortunately, these young girls are often charged as collaborators of the crimes rather than being seen as victims. They are kept in very poor conditions with sub-standard clothing and food, unhygienic living conditions and no provision for healthcare. They are also often physically and sexually exploited by their masters. These victims are deprived from their educations and other basic facilities. This is the worst form of human rights violation.

4. WOMEN TRAFFICKING LAWS IN BANGLADESH

Bangladesh does not have a comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation but prostitution, trafficking for the purpose of prostitution, or other immoral acts are covered in the Penal Code of 1870, the suppression of Immoral Trafficking Act of 1933, the Children Act of 1974 and the Prevention of Repression against women and Children Act of 2000 (amended in 2003)

4.1 Other Acts related to trafficking of women and children

 The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929

 The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1980

 The labour Act of 2006.

 The Penal Code prohibits procurement of a girl under the age of 18 to illicit intercourse with another person.

4.2 Women Trafficking Laws in India

 Trafficking in human beings and beggary and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law (Article 23(1)

 Protection of children from sexual offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, which has come into effect from 14th November, 2012 is a special law to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

 The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) is the premier legislation for prevention of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

 Criminal Law (amendment) Act 2013

 Prohibition of child marriage Act 2006

 Bonded Labour system (Abolition Act, 1976

 Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986

 Transplantation of Human organs Act 1994

 Administrative measures and interventions.

Anti Trafficking Cell (ATC) set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2006.

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5. CONCLUSON

Trafficking has appeared as one of the most awful and most pervasive forms of human rights violation of women and children and presently it is a most important social and political concern for both India and Bangladesh. The of problem of trafficking of women and children in India and Bangladesh has generated a lot of concerns and apprehensions for both the governments and civil society at large. The trafficking is an age old problem, Bangladesh is predominantly a source country for victims of cross-border trafficking due to the plethora of reasons.

6. SUGGESTIONS

The media is a powerful tool and it can play a critical role in mobilising public support so as to combat sex trafficking. The media can help in the following ways:-

1. Analytical journalism on sex trafficking should be encouraged. Different types of articles, debates on trafficking will help not only educate the people it will definitely increase awareness among the people how to save the women from these agents particularly in the border areas. In this way people can contribute towards anti- trafficking efforts. Such reporting should consist of helpline numbers and other sources of support.

2. Both the governments of India and Bangladesh should initiate such schemes and development programmes which will help those people who easily stuck in the trap of these agents easily.

3. The NGOs and other government organisations should organize workshop in order to aware the people regarding trafficking.

4. The trafficked women became a medium of joy for men, they are exploitation and abused by men. Like the Indian government, Bangladesh government should also insert new laws for trafficking and taken stern actions against those who are running this dirty business..

REFERENCES

1. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: Standard Operating Procedures To counter Cross Border Trafficking in Persons: India-Bangladesh Report- September, 2017.

2. Musfiqa Ashraf:' A study on women as Human Trafficking victim and the related laws in Bangladesh' (IOSR-JHSS) Vol. 23, Issue 9, ver. 6 (September 2018) 64-67.

3. Dr. Saraswati Raju Iyer: "Women Trafficking in India- A critical analysis" Shanlax international journal of Arts, science and Humanities, Vol. 4, issue. 2. 2016.

4. Shantanu Guha Ray (January14, 2018)" Bengal new epicentre of human trafficking" Sunday Guardian Live.

5. Mohammad Jamil Khan (July 22, 2019) "Trafficked into nightmares" The Daily Star.

6. Neeraj Chauhan (Time of India, Jan 10, 2018) "Well-oiled network gets 50,0000 Bangladeshi girls trafficked into India every year".

7. N D Arora (Political Science for Civil Service Main Examination) 2016. Mc Graw Hill Education. Page no.

205.

8. Human trafficking in India: Legal Protection and Laws I LAWNN (https://www.lawnn.com/human- trafficking-india/.