Bangladesh still in Tier 2 in US Trafficking in Persons Report 2023

Bangladesh remains in Tier 2 of the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report 2023, indicating that the country has not fully met the minimum standards for eradicating trafficking but has demonstrated significant efforts towards doing so.

This is the fourth consecutive year since 2020 that Bangladesh has maintained its position in Tier 2.

The report, released on Thursday night by the US State Department, acknowledges the government's overall increased efforts compared to the previous reporting period, taking into account any potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its capacity to combat trafficking.

The government's efforts include a rise in prosecutions and convictions of traffickers, increased investigations of cases involving Rohingya victims (a notable development in recent years), and measures taken to reduce recruitment fees associated with the government-run recruitment agency.

The annual report classifies governments based on their perceived efforts to address and combat human trafficking, assigning them to one of three tiers. Tier 1 consists of countries that meet the minimum standards outlined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) for eliminating trafficking. Tier 2 comprises countries that do not meet these standards but are making efforts to do so.

Similar to Bangladesh, other South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives are also placed in Tier 2, while Afghanistan is in Tier 3.

The latest report highlights that the Bangladesh government has extended its National Action Plan (NAP) until 2025 and published its first national study on human trafficking in the country. However, the government falls short of meeting the minimum standards in various critical areas.

According to the report, although the government has increased law enforcement efforts, it has not adequately addressed internal sex trafficking or official complicity, both of which remain pervasive. In addition, the government has not consistently held accountable sub-agents involved in illegal recruitment operations. The report also notes insufficient victim protection efforts, including limited availability of shelter services, and a significantly lower number of identified and referred victims receiving care.

Furthermore, the government has not consistently employed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to identify trafficking victims, including among vulnerable populations, and there is a continued conflation of human trafficking and migrant smuggling in many cases. The report also criticizes the courts for imposing fines on the majority of traffickers instead of jail sentences, weakening deterrence and undermining the overall anti-trafficking efforts of the government. This practice raises concerns for the security and safety of the victims.