Bangladesh’s standing in the United States Department of State’s highly anticipated Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2026 remains unchanged, retaining its position in the Tier 2 category. The report was officially released on Friday.
According to the report, while Bangladesh has not fully met the international minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, the government continues to demonstrate significant progress and sustained efforts to combat the crisis.
Major highlights and analytical findings of the 2026 TIP Report regarding Bangladesh include:
Legal Framework and New Ordinances: To strengthen anti-trafficking laws, Bangladesh enacted a new ordinance in 2026, bringing migrant smuggling and forced criminality under stricter legal parameters.
Increased Investigations vs. Decreasing Convictions: The report notes that while investigations and prosecutions related to human trafficking have increased, the number of finalized convictions for perpetrators has relatively declined.
Vulnerable Groups at Risk: Migrant workers going abroad, women, children, and Rohingya refugees residing in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char remain at the highest risk of trafficking and exploitation.
Syndicates and Fraud in Labor Migration: High recruitment fees, crippling debt burdens, fraudulent job offers, and broker exploitation within the recruiting sector were highlighted as primary drivers of trafficking risks. Furthermore, instances of withheld wages, contract violations, and forced labor conditions abroad were explicitly documented.
