Organ Traffickers Exploit Desperate Poverty in Bangladesh, India

"Desperate patients turn to illicit means, fuelling a system that preys on the poor," she said.

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In the small village of Baiguni in Bangladesh, a disturbing trend has been observed. Many residents have sold their kidneys to organ traffickers, earning the community the nickname “village of one kidney.”

Safiruddin, a 45-year-old man from the village, sold his kidney in India for 3.5 lakh taka ($2,900), hoping to lift his family out of poverty and build a house for his three children. However, the money was quickly spent, and Safiruddin was left with a constant pain in his side and a diminished ability to work.

Safiruddin’s story is not unique. Many men in their early 30s from the Kalai Upazila region have sold their kidneys, often due to poverty, loan repayments, or drug addiction. The brokers who facilitate these transactions often confiscate passports and medical prescriptions, leaving donors without proof of the procedure or access to follow-up care. According to a 2023 study published in the British Medical Journal Global Health publication, one in 35 adults in the region has sold a kidney.

The trade is driven by a simple yet brutal equation: poverty creates the supply, while long wait times, a massive shortage of legal donors, and a weak enforcement system ensure that the demand never ceases. Josna Begum, a 45-year-old widow, was lured by a broker into selling her kidney in India in 2019. She received only three lakh taka ($2,500) for her kidney, despite being promised more. Josna now suffers from chronic pain and struggles to afford medicines.

The kidney trade is a complex issue, involving brokers, hospitals, and government officials. Mohammad Sajal, a former businessman, sold his kidney in 2022 at Venkateshwar Hospital in Delhi. However, he received only 3.5 lakh taka ($2,900) instead of the promised 10 lakh taka ($8,200). Sajal later joined the brokers to dupe others, but he left the trade after a financial dispute. “I am now in front of this gang’s gun,” he said.

The authorities in both Bangladesh and India have cracked down on organ trafficking syndicates. Assistant Inspector General Enamul Haque Sagor of Bangladesh Police said that police have arrested multiple individuals linked to organ trafficking syndicates, including brokers. In India, law enforcement agencies have also taken action against medical professionals accused of involvement in kidney trafficking.

However, experts say that these arrests are too sporadic to seriously dent the business model that underpins the kidney trade. The kidney transplant business is lucrative in India, with recipients often paying between $22,000 and $26,000 for a kidney.

Donors, however, receive only a tiny fraction of this money. Vasundhara Raghavan, CEO of the Kidney Warriors Foundation, said that a shortage of legal donors is a major challenge that drives the demand for trafficked organs. “Desperate patients turn to illicit means, fuelling a system that preys on the poor,” she said.

The issue highlights the need for a more systematic and regulated approach to organ donation. Experts say that mandatory health screenings, postoperative medical support, and financial security for donors could help prevent exploitation. Until then, the kidney trade will continue to thrive, preying on the desperation of the poor.

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