Church leaders in Bangladesh cited the need to work doubly hard against human trafficking as they held events to mark the “International Day of Prayer and Awareness” against the phenomenon on February 8.
“In this present world, we see human dignity is violated by human trafficking,” said Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi, head of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the bishops’ conference of Bangladesh.
He said it is a “Christian responsibility to all the faithful to take a prophetic role and reflect on the scripture and the words of Pope Francis who called for the protection and the promotion of the rights of victims of human trafficking.”
Father Liton Hubert Gomes, CSC, executive secretary of the justice and peace body, stressed the need to empower people, especially women, by offering livelihood projects and education and create “awareness against human trafficking.”
Various reports noted that human trafficking has been increasing in an alarming rate in Bangladesh and other South Asian countries.
There have been estimates that about 200,000 Bangladeshi women and children have been trafficked out of the country in the last 10 years.
At least 20,000 Bangladeshi women and children are trafficked to India and Pakistan and to Middle Eastern states every year.
Another report said about 50,000 Bangladeshi girls are trafficked to or via India over the year.
