500,000 Bengladeshi girls trafficked to brothel is other countries - Child And Family - Brief Article

Community Action, July 15, 2002

NEW YORK -- A UNICEF report issued Friday examines the routes through which women and children are trafficked from Bangladesh to India and Pakistan.

The report says that girls from various parts of Bangladesh last year were trafficked to Pakistan and India through Shibganj, a town in the northwestern region which serves as the main route for the trade. Last year, 200,000 girls were trafficked to Pakistan. Unofficial reports cited by Xinhua News Agency estimate that 500,000 girls were sent to brothels in India. Others were sold in Middle Eastern countries.

Bangladesh has formed a committee to support a campaign against such trafficking and to step up raids on traffickers. Public campaigns, police efforts and increased border surveillance are also planned.