Freedom | Bangladesh special appeal
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)
After the death of her father, Lara*’s mother took over his job as a cleaner at a hospital to provide for her family. With her mother often absent for long periods of time, Lara cared for the house and babysat for a neighbour. In this vulnerable state, 15-year-old Lara quickly became the victim of sex trafficking perpetrated by her neighbour. She thought this was the only way to support her mother.
There was little hope of rescue for Lara.
But freedom was coming.
After six long months of sexual exploitation, Lara was rescued because of a crucial tip sent to authorities. She was placed in aftercare, and her life has been transformed.
What is freedom?
For those who claim Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, the answer is simple: ultimate, spiritual freedom comes only through believing in Christ and trusting in His substitutionary death on our behalf. (Romans 8:1-4)
But humanly speaking, for those trapped in modern-day slavery, the definition of freedom is also simple: freedom is everything they don’t have. They are forced to work in horrific, inhumane conditions for someone else’s gain. Most are tricked or coerced into it through empty promises. They say “yes” because they are so poor that they see no other options. In Bangladesh, this is how many women and children find themselves living in the darkest, nightmare version of slavery — sex trafficking.
FAIR is working with the local church in Bangladesh, and with ending-slavery experts, International Justice Mission (IJM), to establish a new program that will help rescue girls just like Lara from sex trafficking.
The Freedom | Bangladesh special appeal is seeking to help establish this new program and make 50 rescue operations possible. Each operation costs $10,000 and includes elements such as :
- training local first responders in identification and investigation
- resourcing rescue operations
- identifying, recruiting, and training local lawyers, social workers, and other professionals to help with aftercare and with prosecution of abusers
Through all of this, FAIR is integrating the local church into all aspects of the program—from rescue to rehabilitation.
Similar IJM programs have already significantly impacted the region of South Asia. In a nearby country, human trafficking has been reduced by 80% in two key cities. As trafficking victims are being rescued from darkness, they are being cared for by the local church, and lives are being changed.
Would you join us in bringing freedom to captives of sex trafficking in Bangladesh?
How can you help?
GIVE — Make a donation that will help rescue women and children from slavery in Bangladesh.
PRAY — Download the Freedom | Bangladesh prayer guide and pray for the local church and the establishment of this new program in Bangladesh. link to the prayer guide
LEARN other ways your church can participate in the Freedom | Bangladesh FAIR appeal.
Country Facts: Bangladesh
- Population: 174.9 million (2025 figure; Source: Joshua Project)
- Population living in poverty: Over 32 million people (19%) (Dhaka Tribune, January 2025)
- Number living in slavery: 1.2 million people (Global Slavery Index, 2023)
- Up to 50% of people in the sex trade are children.
- FAIR’s founding emergency appeal was in Bangladesh for significant flood relief in the 1970s.