Protect our migrants from trafficking networks

It is deeply disturbing that our aspiring migrant workers are being subjected to brutal exploitation along illegal migration routes to Europe. According to a report in this daily, traffickers lure young men with promises of well-paid jobs in Greece, only to trap them in a vicious cycle of torture, extortion, and near-death experiences in transit countries such as Libya.

The ordeal of Akbar Samrat, a 25-year-old electrician from Chandpur, exposes the unimaginable cruelty faced by many of our migrants. After selling his property and borrowing heavily, Akbar paid Tk 15 lakh to traffickers who promised him work in Greece. Instead, he was smuggled through Dubai and Egypt to Libya, where armed gangs detained him, subjected him to horrific torture, and demanded ransom from his family. Even after his family paid Tk 11 lakh under duress, his suffering did not end. Akbar spent weeks in captivity before finally being rescued with the help of the International Organization for Migration and returned home.

Investigations by the CID's Trafficking in Human Being unit reveal that at least 18 others were deceived by the same network within a year, with traffickers extracting an estimated Tk 3.5 crore from hopeful migrants. The syndicate operated with chilling efficiency, maintaining contacts in Libya and Greece, extorting families through multiple bank accounts, and sending victims on perilous Mediterranean boat journeys after ransom payments. While some reached Europe, many perished at sea. It was also reported earlier how our migrants who legally travelled to Russia with work visas were coerced into joining the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. These disturbing trends reflect the deep flaws in our migration system and the pervasive networks of traffickers who prey on vulnerable workers. The fact that Bangladeshis now rank highest among nationalities attempting to enter Europe illegally via the Mediterranean, with numbers rising sharply this year, underscores the gravity of the crisis.

We urge the government to treat illegal migration and human trafficking as a national emergency. Law enforcement agencies must dismantle trafficking networks in their entirety, trace financial flows, and pursue collaborators both at home and abroad. Meanwhile, targeted awareness campaigns are essential in high-risk regions such as Madaripur-Shariatpur, Sylhet-Sunamganj, and Narsingdi-Bhairab, where traffickers are most active. It is equally vital for the government to expand legal pathways for migration, so that desperate individuals are not forced into the hands of traffickers. Stronger coordination with international partners, including transit and destination countries, is also crucial to protect our migrants, bring those trapped in foreign countries home, and prosecute the traffickers.