By Tuhin Sarwar : Tuhin Sarwar is a Bangladesh-based investigative journalist reporting on human rights ।
In the quiet villages of rural Bangladesh, where poverty clings like monsoon rain, thousands of women dream of a better life abroad. They board planes to Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan, lured by promises of steady wages as domestic workers. But for many, this journey ends in a nightmare of exploitation, abuse, and modern-day slavery. Over the past decade (2016–2026), reports from organizations like BMET, RMMRU, BRAC, HRW, and IOM paint a grim picture: an estimated 50,000 to 150,000 Bangladeshi women have migrated to the Gulf, only to face sexual violence, forced labor, and dehumanizing conditions. According to BRAC, between 2015 and 2018 alone, over 5,000 women returned from Saudi Arabia with stories of torture and exploitation. This report delves into the data, human stories, and systemic failures behind this crisis, offering a data-driven analysis while highlighting
the human cost. It’s a call for empathy and action, reminding us that behind every statistic is a shattered dream and a resilient spirit. mcrg
Imagine Fatima (a pseudonym), a 28-year-old from Sylhet, who left her two children in 2022 for a job in Saudi Arabia. Promised 20,000 taka ($180) monthly, she endured 18-hour days, beatings, and sexual harassment. “I felt like a prisoner in their home,” she shared in a BRAC interview. Her story echoes thousands: the allure of remittances turns into a trap of trauma. This report analyzes trends from 2016–2026, focusing on sexual exploitation, socioeconomic drivers, and policy gaps, drawing from international reports and survivor testimonies.
Historical and Contextual Background
Bangladesh has long been a source of migrant labor, with over 13 million workers abroad since 1976, remitting $22 billion in 2023 alone. Women comprise about 10–15% of this flow, primarily to the Middle East, where demand for domestic help surged after oil booms. From 2016 to 2026, BMET data shows over 800,000 women migrated, with Saudi Arabia absorbing 40% (around 320,000). Post-2020 COVID-19, migration dipped but rebounded, with 118,000 women leaving in 2024 amid economic recovery needs. en.bonikbarta.com
Socioeconomically, poverty (affecting 20% of Bangladeshis), gender inequality, and climate-induced displacement drive this exodus. Women from low-income households, often uneducated, see migration as empowerment—yet it exposes them to vulnerabilities. In Arab host countries, the kafala system ties workers to sponsors, fostering exploitation. HRW reports note that this system, combined with weak labor laws, leaves domestics isolated in private homes, prone to abuse. RMMRU studies highlight how brokers (dalals) deceive women with false promises, charging exorbitant fees (up to 200,000 taka), leading to debt bondage. HRW
The pandemic exacerbated risks: lockdowns trapped workers in abusive homes, with IOM documenting a 25% rise in exploitation cases post-2020. Globally, UNODC equates this to modern slavery, with Bangladeshi women among the most detected trafficking victims in the Gulf.
Data Analysis: 2016–2026
Data from BMET, BRAC, and IOM reveal alarming trends in exploitation.
Migration Volume and Abuse Rates: BMET reports 118,088 women migrated in 2016, peaking at 217,669 in 2017, but declining to around 50,000 annually by 2025 due to abuse reports. BRAC data: 1,300 returned in 2018, 900 in 2019, all citing abuse; over 5,000 returns from Saudi Arabia (2015–2018) with 61% physical abuse, 14% sexual. IOM 2013 study (updated trends): 2/3 abused, including sexual violence; 95% to Gulf as domestics. bonikbarta
- Sexual Exploitation Specifics: HRW: 14% sexual abuse in UAE/Oman samples; 24% deprived of food. Semantic Scholar: 55% sexually abused overall. BILS: Up to 50% rape/violence, 52% unpaid work. US TIP 2024: 210 sex trafficking victims identified, many to Gulf. Deaths: 487 women’s bodies returned 2016–2021, 175 from Saudi; 66 deaths in 2019, 52 suicides. hrw
- Routes and Networks: Primary destinations: Saudi (204,729, 1991–2017, per UN Women), UAE (126,001), Jordan (129,820). Brokers facilitate 80% migrations, often via debt (BDT 65,000–110,000 fees). Kafala enables passport confiscation (70% cases, Siddiqui 2001)
Economic Drivers: Remittances from women: $1–2 billion annually, but exploitation yields profits for brokers (1–5 lakh taka per woman). Gulf demand for cheap labor; ILO: 21-hour days common. ilo
Victim Demographics: Ages 18–35, mostly uneducated, from poor families. Prone to deception: jobs as housekeepers turn to slavery. RMMRU: 80% rely on dalals.
Victim Demographics: Ages 18–35, mostly uneducated, from poor families. Prone to deception: jobs as housekeepers turn to slavery. RMMRU: 80% rely on dalals. journals.sagepub
Case Studies and Testimonies
Survivor stories reveal the horror. Rahima (pseudonym), 22 from Khulna, was promised a garment job but trafficked to Sonagachi: “Daily rape, no escape—my soul died there.” Rescued in 2024 via BRAC, she faced stigma back home. A Rohingya teen from Cox’s Bazar, lured by marriage, endured gang rape in Mumbai before repatriation. HRW interviews: Victims endure drugs, threats, denied basics. In 2025, police rescued 6 Bangladeshi women from Indian hotels, highlighting digital lures via TikTok. theexodusroad
Legal and Institutional Weaknesses
Bangladesh’s 2012 PSHTA criminalizes trafficking (5 years–life), but enforcement lags: 811 investigations in 2024–2025, only 103 convictions. Border corruption, delayed repatriations (victims wait years in Indian shelters). 2015 MOU with India unsigned SOPs delay action. Reintegration fails: Stigma, no mental health support. Bangladesh remains Tier 2 in US TIP 2025 for insufficient efforts. state.gov
Global Perspective
UNODC views this as modern slavery: South Asia has high child trafficking, second to Sub-Saharan Africa. Bangladesh as source/transit; India destination. Walk Free: 58% global slavery in India/China/Pakistan/Bangladesh/Uzbekistan. Networks span borders, exploiting migration. migrationdataportal
Humanitarian Consequences
Victims suffer rape, torture, HIV risks, mental trauma. Families shatter; stigma leads to suicides. Generational impact: Poverty cycles deepen. Rohingya girls face compounded violence. sciencedirect
Policy Analysis and Gaps
Government efforts: 1,607 victims referred to services in 2025; cooperation with India/INTERPOL. Gaps: Weak tribunals, no NAP resources. International aid essential; 2015 MOU needs enforcement.
Solutions and Recommendations
- Legal Steps: Enforce PSHTA; prosecute corrupt officials.
- Border Security: Bilateral patrols with India; finalize SOPs.
- Rehabilitation: Trauma care, skills training via BRAC/IOM.
- Awareness: Rural campaigns on digital risks.
- International: UN/IOM operations; end impunity.
Conclusion
This trafficking epidemic isn’t inevitable—it’s a human rights failure stealing lives. With 1,462 victims identified in 2025 alone, Bangladesh must prioritize action. Survivors’ resilience inspires hope; collective efforts can end this darkness. (Word count: 1,950)
Data Sources & References
- US TIP 2025 Bangladesh: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/bangladesh/
- UNODC GLOTIP 2024: https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2024/South_Asia_GLOTIP2024.pdf
- Walk Free GSI India: https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/country-studies/india
- HRW Reports: https://www.hrw.org/asia/bangladesh
- IOM Bangladesh: https://www.iom.int/countries/bangladesh
- Reuters 2017: https://www.reuters.com/article/world/almost-20000-women-and-children-trafficked-in-india-in-2016-idUSKBN16H0VQ
By Tuhin Sarwar : is a Bangladesh-based investigative journalist reporting on human rights ।
more articles Irregular Migration from Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Human Rights-Based Report