Marzina's mother married another man when her father died. The small girl was then sent to her grandfather's family. One day the stepfather told her grandfather that Marzina's mother was ill and wanted to see her. The grandfather permitted the girl to travel with her stepfather who instead of bringing her to her mother took her to Mumbai.

In Mumbai, police rescued Marzina from a hotel and arrested the stepfather although he was released later. When Marzina's mother heard about the story, she could not believe it. "I've not sent for my daughter," she repeatedly told neighbours and police during investigation.

After staying in a shelter house called 'Prema Home' in Mumbai for about four months, Marzina was brought back home by Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Ainjibi Samity. She now shuttles between her grandfather's house and the shelter provided by the samity. "I've been saved by some good people. I'm grateful to them," said Marzina during a trip to the shelter recently.

Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Ainjibi Samity has recently helped rescue a small boy, Kamran, from some alleged human traffickers in Mirpur. One of the detained men told police that they picked up Kamran from a trade show in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. They struck a deal with other traffickers to sell Kamran for Tk. 3,000. He would have been smuggled to a Gulf nation for use as camel jockey, police said.

Human trafficking, particular in children and women, has been increasing in Bangladesh, according to non-government organisations.

According to a report from the USAID's anti- trafficking programme, 10 to 20 thousand Bangladeshi women and children are smuggled out of the country every year. Many of the victims are as young as two years old. The destinations of most of the trafficked women and children are India, Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries. Many of the victims end up in brothels and boys are used as camel jockeys. Many are forced work as housemaids.

A senior BDR official told a recent meeting that at least 1008 Bangladeshis had been trafficked out of the country between 2001 and 2003. During this period 1116 women and children had been rescued from the traffickers.

As per the Combat Child Trafficking Project under Women and Child Affairs Ministry, a baseline study by the NGOs has found that 1089 children were smuggled out of the country during Oct. 2001-Sept. 2002 period. Among them 538 were girls and 551 boys. And the government is considering launching a new project this year to further strengthen anti-trafficking measures.

However, according to National Anti-Trafficking Information Resource Centre, 519 people were trafficked out of the country in 2003.

Even though the figures from different sources differ from each other, one thing is clear: trafficking of women and children is a big problem in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has enacted tough laws to stop trafficking in persons. The offence carries up to death penalty.

Executive Director of Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Ainjibi Samity said: "Human trafficking is a cross-border issue. So Bangladesh and India must co-operate with each other to deal with the problem."

Dr. Mahmuda Islam, a teacher at Dhaka University's Sociology Department, says poverty is a key factor in human trafficking from Bangladesh. She also stresses the need for creating anti-trafficking awareness.

-NewsNetwork.