World

Bangladeshis trafficked to Vanuatu to start returning home

June 18, 2019 3:50 pm

Bangladeshi human trafficking victims in Vanuatu [Source: Radio NZ]

More than 100 Bangladeshis who were trafficked to Vanuatu will start returning home this month.

The migrants have been in Vanuatu, where they were taken with the promise of work, since November.

Many have refused to return to Bangladesh, and they’ve since been living off rations in Port Vila.

Article continues after advertisement

But Bangladesh’s high commissioner to Australia, said the majority of them are now willing to return.

He said he’s expecting about 70 to return to Bangladesh in different phases, starting in about a week.

But the International Organisation for Migration, which is arranging flights, said there are no confirmed departures yet.

Four people have been arrested on trafficking charges in connection with the case and are being tried in Vanuatu’s Supreme Court.