Q: What are the social consequences due to poverty in Bangladesh? Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries with 150 million people, 31.5 percent of whom live below the national poverty line. According to the World Bank in 2005, 40% of the population was still below the national poverty line. The Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) in Bangladesh was last reported at 31.51 in 2010, according to a World Bank report published in 2012.There are several consequences of poverty those are mentioned below:
Women and Child trafficking:
Women and children trafficking is a perennial problem, not only in Bangladesh but also in the world. Poverty is one of the major reasons behind women and children trafficking in Bangladesh. Nowadays, trafficking is an easy way of making money by targeting the poor segment of the country. A group of heinous criminals have adopted it as a profession. They allure the victims' parents and guardians to voluntarily put them in (the victims) their hands. Sometimes they kidnap individuals to traffic them outside the country. In the name of providing employment they entice innocent people into their trap. They are brought over to Dhaka and forced into antisocial activities. Good-looking women are being trafficked abroad. Although Dhaka is their hub of activity they have networks across the country.
According to United nation's statistics, during the last ten years, more than 2 lac women were trafficked to Pakistan and 5 lac were sent to India. 90% of women and children were trafficked through Benapole border at Jessore. The other transit points are Sona Masjid at Rajshahi, Meherpur, Hili, Shylet and Brahamanbaria.In recent times trafficking is increasing in the name of labour migration. The main destinations of the trafficked persons are India, Pakistan, Middle East, Lebanon,Thailand, Cambodia. They are mainly trafficked for sex trade, domestic work, forced labour, camel racing, forced marriage and other forms of exploited labour.
200-400 young women and children are smuggled and trafficked every month from Bangladesh to Pakistan and Arab Gulf countries;
- An estimated 10,000-15,000 women and children are trafficked from Bangladesh to India annually;
- An average of at least 70-80 women and children are trafficked daily from Bangladesh to other countries;
- An estimated 200,000 women have already been trafficked in different countries including girls as young as 9 years old.
Source: United States Department of State, 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report - Bangladesh, 19 June 2012.
There is a rising number of children living or working in urban centers, notably in the capital city. Government statistics based on a survey by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, estimate the number of street children in Bangladesh to be around 380,000 - of whom 55% are in Dhaka city. These children become prime targets of organized child trafficking rings .Official estimates of Save the Children suggest that over 13000 children were trafficked out of the country in the last five years. As many as 20000 children are exploited in street prostitution.