US report on human trafficking motivated

Bangladesh Citizens Alliance Against Trafficking (BCAAT) stages a demonstration against the US State Department's 'Trafficking in Persons Report 2004' at Muktangon in the city yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

They said the United States wants to create pressure on Bangladesh to deploy its troops in Iraq in the name of imposing sanctions for its alleged 'worsening' trafficking situation.

The rally was jointly organised by Bangladesh Citizens Alliance Against Trafficking (BCAAT) and Sushasoner Janno Procharavijan (SUPRO) at Muktangon in the city.

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The speakers said most of the Bangladeshi victims of trafficking were abused severely in some Middle East countries, but Bangladesh was relegated to Tier three of the US State Department's 'Human Trafficking in Persons Report 2004' which put those countries at Tier two.

The US has no authority to interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, said alliance Convenor Farida Aktar.

She said, " The poor are not criminal, rather they are the victims of trafficking. Poverty is the main cause of human trafficking and the US should look into it."

The US should also realise that sanctions would not help reduce trafficking in Bangladesh, she added.

SUPRO Secretary Rezaul Karim termed the sanction a device of imperialism to achieve its purposes.

He cautioned the government to abstain from entering any deal with the United States that goes against the interest of the country.

Later, a procession was brought out protesting US relegation of Bangladesh on trafficking and its possible sanctions.