Dhaka, Sept 30 – Bangladesh has remained in Tier 2 of the US State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, marking the sixth consecutive year it has held this ranking.
The report notes that while Bangladesh does not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking, the government has continued to make “significant efforts” toward addressing the issue. These include wider training for frontline officials on victim identification and trauma-informed care, as well as the formal adoption of a National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
Authorities also identified and referred more victims to services compared to the previous year.
Persistent Shortcomings
Despite progress, the report highlights serious gaps:
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Decline in investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of traffickers.
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Limited action against sex trafficking, forced child labour, and exploitation of Rohingya refugees.
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Under-resourced labour inspectors, particularly in the informal sector.
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Weak victim protection and reintegration services, especially for male survivors and returning migrant workers.
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High recruitment fees for overseas workers that increase vulnerability to trafficking.
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Courts often imposing fines instead of prison sentences, weakening deterrence.
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Corruption and complicity among officials, with no convictions reported.
Recommendations from the US
The TIP Report urges Bangladesh to:
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Expand Anti-Trafficking Tribunals.
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Strengthen labour inspector capacity.
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Improve victim services across all categories.
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Eliminate recruitment fees.
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Investigate credible allegations of Rohingya exploitation.
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Adopt and fund a comprehensive National Action Plan.
Regional Context
The report categorises countries into four tiers:
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Tier 1: Full compliance with anti-trafficking standards.
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Tier 2: Partial compliance but significant efforts (Bangladesh, India, Bhutan).
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Tier 2 Watch List: Partial compliance but concerns over declining efforts (Nepal, Maldives).
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Tier 3: No compliance and little effort (Afghanistan).
Bangladesh’s continued Tier 2 status signals recognition of its ongoing initiatives, but also highlights urgent reforms needed to tackle systemic gaps in justice, protection, and prevention.