Out of the 40 million victims of modern slavery worldwide, almost two thirds—25 million people—are exploited in Asia and the Pacific. Making the region host to the largest number of victims of modern slavery today.

Bangladesh ranks 10th among countries where more than 45 million people globally are living in modern slavery. In Bangladesh, 1,531,300 people are living in modern slavery, according to Global Slavery Index 2016. According to the index, which ranks 167 countries, half the population of modern slaves are in five countries -- India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan.

Over 15 lakh people in Bangladesh are living in modern slavery, with some 44 percent of the population being vulnerable to the scourge, says a new report.