The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The United States strongly recommended Bangladesh to criminally prosecute the unscrupulous manpower agents responsible for the hardship of expatriate Bangladeshi workers.

This was stated in the 'Trafficking in Persons Report 2008' released in Washington by the US Department of State on Wednesday, said a Bangladesh Embassy press release.

The report suggested Bangladesh to significantly increase criminal prosecutions and punishments for all forms of labour trafficking, including those that involve fraudulent recruiting and forced child labour; improve criminal law enforcement efforts against and punishment of government complicity in trafficking; and provide protection services for adult male trafficking victims and victims of forced labour.

The report acknowledged the positive initiatives of Bangladesh Government to tackle the trafficking in persons.

"The government reported efforts to prevent trafficking through memoranda of understanding with destination countries addressing destination countries' labour laws, requirements for labour contracts, and mechanism for labour flows," it said.

The report also lauded Bangladesh for the investigations, arrests and criminal prosecution of sex trafficking offenders, government's awareness campaign against trafficking in persons and acknowledges Bangladesh government's initiative to train Bangladeshi peacekeepers on trafficking prior to their deployment.

It places Bangladesh in tier-2 along with Asian developed countries like Japan and Singapore.