Small fish being killed to protect big fish: Ganosanghati Andolon
Ganosanghati Andolon on Thursday alleged law enforcement agencies were carrying out extrajudicial killings of alleged human traffickers to cover up for the real culprits who are backed by ruling party quarters.
At a discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, Ganosanghati Andolon chief coordinator Zonaed Saki also demanded government’s diplomatic initiative so that the governments of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia keep open their maritime borders for the floating sea migrants.
Ganosanghati Andolon organised the discussion on ‘human trafficking, migrant workers and Bangladeshi citizens’ lives and safety’ where Jahangirnagar University professor Anu Mohammad, Dhaka University professor AH Ahmed Kamal and lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua, among others, spoke.
Zonaed Saki said the so-called ‘crossfire’ of the small fishes [alleged human traffickers] is going on to protect the big fishes that are backed by political parties.
‘The influential political figures, and human trafficking gangs and traders, should be busted and put on trial’, he demanded.
Saki alleged that Bangladeshi migrant workers were being denied support from Bangladeshi envoys working abroad.
‘ We demand government’s diplomatic initiative so that the governments of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia keep open their maritime borders for the thousands of floating sea migrants’, he said.
Anu Mohammad said large numbers of people from Bangladesh
were becoming sea migrants risking their lives as they were being deprived of a respectable livelihood and guarantee of work at home.
He said the Bangladeshi economy was dependant on remittance sent by poor migrant workers, but the government did not give them the respect they deserved.
‘Every stage of the migrant workers’ life is thorny’, he said, ‘although the government boasts of economic growth based on remittance’.
Jurist Jyotirmoy Barua said drug traders and human traffickers were the same – who were backed by the ruling party, and even the parliament and secretariat.
‘The drug trading and human trafficking chain is backed by ruling party men. The chain stretches from Cox’s Bazaar to the parliament and secretariat, and it should be cut off,’ he said.
Source: New Age
