Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said legal actions will be taken against illegal emigrants along with the middlemen involved in human trafficking.

‘Besides the middlemen, punishment will be given to those who are travelling abroad in illegal way ...they are tainting the image of the country along with pushing their life into a danger,’ she said.

‘I think such an unlawful trend may be stopped if the fortune-seekers who are pursuing unlawful means for moving from the country are punished along with the middlemen,’ she said.

The Prime Minister made the observation while addressing a meeting of the senior officials of the Labour and Employment Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital on Sunday.

Sheikh Hasina asked the ministry to carry out campaign on stopping the illegal migration and human trafficking.

The Prime Minister said those who are moving from the country by drifting in the sea have no idea where they are going.

‘Dead bodies are being found from the forests and jungles...it is very unfortunate,’ she said.

‘It's not true that everybody is moving illegally for want. They are in fact running after 'golden deer' as they think they would earn huge amount of money if they can go abroad,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said such type of people are becoming 'mentally sick' while moving to other countries in illegal way in search of good fortune.

‘They could lead a better life if they do something with the money they are handing over to the middlemen for going abroad in illegal way,’ she said.