A public awareness Jarigan performance was held in the Abura area of Chikandi Union, Shariatpur Sadar Upazila, to combat human trafficking.

The event was organized under the “Ashshash Project (APP)”, funded by the Embassy of Switzerland and supported by Winrock International, and implemented by SDS (Shariatpur Development Society). The performance was arranged for men and women who have returned after being victims of human trafficking.

The team of Aziz Bayati highlighted the various harms of human trafficking through their songs and tunes. The Jarigan performance presented several real-life stories, showing how people fall victim to the allure of going abroad, only to eventually suffer exploitation and abuse. It also conveyed how, by staying alert, such deception can be avoided.

The Jarigan performance took place on Wednesday afternoon in the presence of approximately 200 local residents in Abura, Chikandi Union. The event was conducted by the Program Officer of the Ashshash Project (APP), Kamrul Hasan, and Community Mobilizer, Tanvirul Hasan Sizar.

Rafique Madbar (45), son of Jobar Ali Madbar from the Abura area of Chikandi Union, who attended the performance, said, "I learned a lot from the Jarigan performance today. I heard in Aziz Bayati’s song how people become destitute when they go abroad illegally. During the program, an SDS official mentioned that a few days ago, some people from Madaripur went through Libya to Italy and went missing. Their families are unable to find them. If this is true, then I will never send any of my family members abroad illegally."

Another attendee, Abdul Latif Talukdar (70), son of Ayub Ali Talukdar from the same area, said, "Aziz Bayati told the story of a young man through his song. The young man sold his land and took out loans to go abroad. Later, he was arrested by the police for working illegally and returned home. His family became burdened with debt by sending him abroad. So, I have decided that if I send anyone from my family abroad, it will be through legal means."

At the end of the Jarigan performance, Kamrul Hasan, Program Officer of the “Ashshash Project (APP)”, addressed the audience and said, "Under no circumstances should you risk your family’s safety or your own life by going abroad illegally. Those who go abroad illegally and get caught by law enforcement, returning empty-handed, are often ignored. The ones who have houses and cars are the ones people care about.

However, we stand by those misguided and victimized individuals who return from abroad. We are providing them with mental support. We are arranging training for them in various institutions to help them stand on their own feet. We are assisting them to become entrepreneurs. We are always here for such victims."