Kolkata, May 25: As track-two diplomacy efforts assume greater significance in the sub-continent, a citizens' peace mission by Indian women activists to Bangladesh has identified trafficking of minor girls and illegal immigration as major cross-border problems that need to be arrested by both governments immediately. "While trafficking of women in the region was always a concern, another phenomenon of trafficking of minor girls is also growing," chairperson of West Bengal Commission for Women Jasodhara Bagchi, part of the 35-member team that returned from a week-long peace mission to Dhaka on May 20, said here today. Bagchi said that notes exchanged by women's organisation on both sides revealed that traffickers 'preferred' minor women as they were believed to be free of HIV/Aids.

The women's delegation of Indian intellectuals and activists, which left for Dhaka on the peace bus mission on May 14, included eminent women activists Mohini Giri, Kamla Bhasin, Syeda Hamid, Rashme Sahgal and Bharti Ray.

"Apart from a minor glitch over whether a Kashmiri delegate could be allowed to cross the border at Benapole on the Indian side, no such hassles occurred at the Petrapole border of Bangladesh as the Bangladesh Women Lawyers' Association helped us out with all nitty-gritties," she said.

Bagchi said that issues of push-back of infiltrators on both sides, border touts aiding illegal immigration and torture on innocent women in correction homes also figured prominently.

A similar Bangladeshi citizens' delegation was expected to visit India within the next six months, she said.
Bureau Report