Human trafficking surges as criminals turn to digital platforms: BRAC

Bangladesh remains the largest source of irregular migrants attempting to reach Europe through the Mediterranean, with traffickers increasingly using social media and digital platforms to lure victims, according to BRAC Migration Programme. 

Citing data from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, BRAC said Bangladesh ranked first among nationalities arriving in Italy via the Central Mediterranean route in 2025 and the first half of 2026. Bangladeshis also topped arrivals in Greece through the Libya route this year.

Around 20,259 Bangladeshis entered Europe through the Mediterranean in 2025. In the first six months of 2026, about 4,249 reached Italy and 3,608 entered Greece through irregular sea routes from Libya.

The World Day against Trafficking in Persons is set to be observed today.  BRAC warned that traffickers are increasingly using WhatsApp, Telegram and hundreds of Facebook groups to advertise illegal journeys, share photos of boats that allegedly reached Italy and connect prospective migrants with smugglers.

Digital platforms are also being used to advertise fake overseas jobs, with many victims ending up in forced labour, online fraud operations and so-called "scam centres", where they are confined and coerced into cybercrime, it added.

The dangers remain severe. In March, at least 18 Bangladeshis, including 12 from Sunamganj, died after a boat travelling from Tobruk in Libya to Greece drifted at sea for six days without food or water. Survivors said traffickers ordered the bodies of those who died to be thrown overboard.

Many Bangladeshis face torture and extortion at Libyan detention camps, with families often forced to pay between Tk25 lakh and Tk30 lakh for their release.

According to BRAC, most migrants attempting the crossing are aged 25-40 and come from migration-prone districts including Madaripur, Shariatpur, Sylhet and Sunamganj.

BRAC Associate Director Shariful Hasan said irregular overseas migration had become a major human trafficking challenge. "Many people lose their lives while crossing the Mediterranean, while others suffer horrific abuse in Libyan camps where they are tortured and held for ransom," he said.

BRAC also highlighted the growing threat of cyber scam trafficking in Southeast Asia. In June alone, 583 Bangladeshi victims returned from Cambodia.

Its research found that 98% of the returnees never received the promised jobs, 90% were forced into online scam operations, 88% were denied freedom of movement, 86% had their passports confiscated, 27% suffered severe physical abuse and 38% reported psychological torture.

Government data show that as of May 2026, around 5,284 human trafficking cases remained pending, including 3,306 under trial and 1,978 under investigation.

Despite enacting the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Prevention and Suppression Act, 2026, Bangladesh needs stronger enforcement, faster prosecution, asset seizures, special tribunals in trafficking hotspots and greater public awareness to curb technology-driven human trafficking and migrant smuggling, BRAC said.