Editorial
Strike at the Root
Timely intervention by the Indian police has certainly saved the six Bangladeshi boys and girls from a subhuman existence as camel jockeys and prostitutes respectively while the initiative of the Bangladesh Women Lawyers' Association secured their passage back home. These children and their parents, although their union took some time materialising, would be indebted to both these organisations forever. Indeed, it is a happy occasion but definitely tinged with sadness; for it reminds us of those children who have not been that fortunate and are, if they are still alive that is, passing their days in hardship and humiliation. It also reminds us of a collective failure at the national as well as regional levels to put an end to the heinous trade in human misery once and for all. Trafficking of our boys to the Middle East to be used as camel jockeys and girls to India and Pakistan to be sold to the brothels has been on for many years now. According to a report by the United Nations Development Fund for Women, brought out in late 1998, two million children are abused and trafficked globally every year, South and Southeast Asian countries topping the list. Another report spoke of Bangladeshi women landing at brothels in neighbouring countries.
Aside from the active child-trafficking racket at play, there is another side to the story here as reflected in Parveen's case. The 12-year-old was taken to India by her own aunt who sold her off to another trafficker for seven thousand taka. It could be interpreted as a reflection of a dire economic compulsion; but primarily it is a law enforcement failure. It is time the SAARC played an effective role in bringing together law enforcing and intelligence agencies of the seven member countries to wage a war against the inhuman and illegal traders.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments