Trafficker who used numbing agent on boy is jailed

November 10, 2023

A trafficker who tried to abduct a 12-year-old boy by using a numbing agent has been jailed for three years in Bangladesh.

The terrifying incident was first reported on July 18, 2019, after the child was rendered unconscious by a chemical substance on a road.

The boy’s parents rushed him to hospital, where he was saved by medical staff.

The case in Dhaka was at a standstill until the Justice and Care team began working on it in 2021. We brought forward five crucial witnesses who gave testimonies, resulting in this sentencing.

The boy, who is now 16, has been supported by our team, which helped him prepare to bravely testify in court.

Convictions in cases involving attempted exploitation or oppression are relatively rare in Bangladesh, based on previous judgments. 

We were able to establish beyond doubt that the accused was a trafficker and that the abduction was executed with the intent of human trafficking. Prior to this case, he had been involved in similar activities.

Alongside a three-year sentence, the trafficker will also be forced to pay a fine of ৳30,000 (£222.63). Three months will be added to his imprisonment if he does not pay the financial penalty.