Child Trafficking in the Border Area of Joypurhat District with a Focus on Counter Measures: A Sociological Study

Abstract

The Trafficking of children is a national as well as global issue. Child trafficking in the border area has become a major issues of concern and its intensity is growing day by day in Bangladesh. Very little work has been done to understand the local dynamics of the problem meaningfully. This thesis was undertaken to produce a comprehensive summary of available information concerning trafficking of children in the border area of Bangladesh. Information on the magnitude of the problem, underlying factors that foster trafficking, modes of trafficking, major trafficking routes and consequences of trafficking has been compiled. Trafficking in human beings is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people for the purpose of exploitation. The equivalent of the word trafficking is Pachar which is a serious problem and is considered violation of human rights. This thesis is intended to explain how children are usually fallen victims of trafficking in the border area of Joypurhat district by various methods.

For this reason I have selected the crucial topics of socio-economic challenges and vulnerability of traffic affected family in the Joypurhat district. The main research question was child trafficking its consequences on victims and affected family. I have selected 28 sample size to conduct research through mixed method with quantitative research method and qualitative research methods.

Trafficking of children in Joypurhat district is in alarming situation. Because it is a border connected district and the most known trafficking zone of Bangladesh Hili is very nearest to this area. It is an agricultural based area and the population is very poor. Employment opportunity is insufficient here. Besides, this district has a good communication facilities by road and rail from other part of Bangladesh. For this reason it is an attractive point for traffickers. The study found that majority of trafficker are brokers (67%) and the rest of the (33%) is agent, the most significant factor alluring proposal is better quality of life (96%) and behind accepting the alluring proposal is motivational proposal (82%) and lack of consciousness (71%). It has also found that existing social structure, economic system, cultural condition and geographical setting of Joypurhat district affects child trafficking.

For the convenience of the study, I propose to discuss the relevant laws. In this thesis, an attempt has been made to show how the children of border area of Bangladesh suffer for trafficking and tries to give some preventive measures to overcome the situation. This dissertation describes socio-economic conditions of traffic affected family of Joypurhat district and also prescribes some strategy to combat child trafficking as well as to reintegrate the trafficked victims with the main stream of our society.