Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh:

Experience from Baniyashanta Brothel
∗
Khan Sarfaraz Ali

Abstract
Bangladesh is a low-lying riverine country in South Asia. Most of the people of this country still
depend on agriculture or alike occupations for their livelihood. Due to physical advantage male
people engage themselves in laborious and outside jobs. On the other hand, female group are
mostly involved in household activities and less laborious jobs. Very few of them are engaged in
reputed jobs. The disappointing picture is to mention that a good number of women in
Bangladesh are engaged in sex work. Among them few are disguised and others have received
this work as occupation. Except the floating sex workers, others use to live in the brothels. The
present study is an endeavor to illustrate the situation of the sex workers in Bangladesh with a
view to show a gateway for their greater wellbeing. The study has been undertaken to contribute
to both our general knowledge on sex work and to suggest a series of action for the well being of
the sex workers. This piece of writing will work as a basis for the policy makers and plan
executors to adopt realistic plans to empower and enlighten the sex workers to lead a
comfortable life. A unique feature of the article is its journalistic style. All information in it are
carefully organized. This will be very important resource for anyone interested in sex-work and
sex-workers in Bangladesh. The purpose of this article is to explore the entire situation of the sex
workers in Bangladesh.

Methodology
This study is the result of a series of interview and life experiences of the sex workers who are
living in Banyashanta brothel, one of the famous and ancient brothels in Bangladesh. Though the
study is based on primary data, secondary information also has been used to enrich the structure.
This is a qualitative type of study and case study method was applied for this purpose. A
questionnaire containing both structured and unstructured questions was developed to collect data
from the respondents. Direct participation in the interview with the sex workers and observation
techniques were also active during the study period. 160 sex workers from the study area were
interviewed directly to gather information.

Study Area
Secondary data shows, few studies have been conducted in brothel areas earlier to know the
status of sex work in Bangladesh. But still there is a lack of sufficient studies on situation
of the sex workers. A significant number of the sex workers live besides the river or forest in
our country. As a renowned spot for the sex workers in Bangladesh, Banyashanta, a small village
beside the river Poshur in Khulna district was selected as the study area and dwellers of this
brothel were selected as the respondents to get necessary information. As Banyashanta represents
other brothels in the country, experience from this brothel will help to get a clear picture about

Associate Management Counselor, Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM)
sarfarazbim@gmail.com / 880-01817528067

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

the situation of sex workers in Bangladesh.

Introduction
Prostitution has always been analyzed as an object of professional knowledge. It is a challenge to
bring the voice of sex workers upfront in the academic discussion centering them. 1 Day by day,
sex work is increasing in Bangladesh. Brothel based female sex workers in Bangladesh report the
highest turnover of customers anywhere in Asia. Banyashanta, a small village beside the Mongla
port is reputed to be about hundred years old, where the British sailors and merchants (in bangla
‘Beniya’) used to come and enjoy with beautiful ladies. Since then this brothel is famous as
Banyashanta. Sex workers from different part of this sub-continent rushed there and started
earning through this occupation. By the passage of time this brothel lost its glamour, foreign
customers and earning of the sex workers are gradually shrinking as the port is not running like
before. At present, about two hundred sex workers and their families are living from hand to
mouth in this brothel. It is quite difficult to illustrate the scenario of the sex workers of this
brothel how wretched they are in this millennium age. The internal migration from the country as
well as overseas migration from others countries create demands for the services of the sex
workers in Bangladesh.

Definition of Sex worker

A sex worker is a person who works in the sex industry, specifically, a person who commercially
trades in sex or sexual stimulation.2 The term is usually used in reference to those in the sex
industry that actually provide such sexual services, as opposed to management and staff of such
industries. Some sex workers are paid to engage in sexually explicit behavior which involves
varying degrees of physical contact with customers (sex workers, escorts); pornography models
and actors engage in sexually explicit behavior which is filmed or photographed. Phone sex
operators have sexually-oriented conversations with customers. Other sex workers are paid to
engage in live sexual performance, such as web cam sex and phone sex3 and performers in live
sex shows. Some sex workers perform erotic dances and other acts for an audience (striptease,
Go-Go dancing, burlesque, peep shows).
Although the term is sometimes viewed as a synonym or euphemism for prostitution, the
term is meant as a general term for erotic labor in any of the different parts of the sex industry,
hence, strippers and performers in pornography (who generally do not define themselves as sex
workers) are also considered sex workers. The term sex worker was coined in 1980 by sex worker
activist Carol Leigh. Its use became popularized after publication of the anthology, Sex Work:
Writings by Women in the Sex Industry in 1987.4[5][6] The term sex worker has since spread into

1
Chowdhury, R. (2004, Aug) “Take Care of Your Problem, Not Mine”: Sex Workers’ Standpoint versus the
Society, the State and the Anti - Sex Work Feminists of Bangladesh
2
Oxford English Dictionary, "sex worker" "sex industry"
3
Weitzer, Ronald. 2000. Sex For Sale: Prostitution, Pornography, and the Sex Industry (New York:
Routledge Press)
4
Sex work: writings by women in the sex industry edited by Frédérique Delacoste and Priscilla Alexander,
Cleis Press, 1991 (2nd ed). ISBN 0939416115.
5
The Etymology of the terms ‘Sex Work’ and ‘Sex Worker’, BAYSWAN.org. Accessed 2009-09-11.
6
Whores and other feminists, edited by Jill Nagle, Routledge, 1997. ISBN 0415918227.

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

much wider use, including in academic publications, by NGOs and labor unions, and by
governmental and intergovernmental agencies, such as the World Health Organization. The term
is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster's Dictionary.7
The term is strongly opposed, however, by many who are morally opposed to the sex
industry, such as social conservatives, anti-prostitution feminists, and other prostitution
abolitionists. Such groups view prostitution variously as a crime or as victimization, and see the
term ‘sex work’ as legitimizing criminal activity or exploitation as a type of labor.8[9] In the view
of Melissa Farley and other anti-prostitution feminists, all forms of sex work, including stripping
and performing in pornography, are simply different types of prostitution. Some anti-prostitution
feminists, such as Sheila Jeffreys, prefer the term sex workerd woman (and analogous terms such
as ‘sex workerd child’) to emphasize the victimization they see as inherent in such activity. Since
there are numerous types of sex workers, this is just the definition of prostitution: (in most states)
a lewd act for money or other consideration. This may be worded slightly differently in each
state, but has the general meaning of the touching of breasts, buttocks or genitals for the purpose
of sexual gratification or arousal.

Types of Sex Workers

On the basis of nature and location, sex workers are classified into following categories:

a) Seasonal sex workers: Especially in the season of any festival like: Eid, Puja,
Christmas etc. these sex workers come out and search for customers. Most of them migrate
from the rural and under developed areas to the urban areas in a specific season of the
calendar year.
b) Commercial sex workers: Commercial sex is an ancient and widespread
phenomenon. Commercial sex takes place in many kinds of ways and involves many different
types of people, many of whom are in no way stereotypical. People from various backgrounds
and classes sell sex and they do so for a broad range of reasons. These reasons often change over
time. Some people sell sex as a full-time occupation, while others sell sex only occasionally.
Although some people are willing sex workers and others are pressured to sell sex, it is not
helpful to see sex work as either voluntary or forced. In fact, between the educated and
resourceful woman who chooses commercial sex from a broad range of possibilities and the poor,
uneducated woman who is physically forced to do it, there is a whole continuum of situations.
For example, some people suffer pressure from familiars, but have the possibility to stop sex
working if they wish. Others see sex work as a bearable occupation, rather than an ideal one,
which is how many, or even most, people feel about their jobs. Commercial sex involves several
actors apart from the sex worker and the client. These people are owners, managers and staff of
commercial sex and entertainment establishments, partners and families of sex workers, support
staff such as maids, cleaners, receptionists and security. Taxi drivers, tourist guides and hotel

7
Merriam-Webster Dictionary, ‘sex worker’
8
Melissa Farley, Yale Journal of Law and Feminism 18(1):109–144, Spring 2006.
9
Baptie, Trisha (2009-04-29). Sex worker ? Never met one !. Sisyphe.org. http://sisyphe.org/spip.php?
article3290. Retrieved 2009-09-12

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

staff that bring customers and sex workers together are also included in the sex industry, as are
vendors who sell products in places where sex services are marketed.
c) Floating sex workers: Sex workers who use to wander from one place to
another for their customers and do not have any specific location are called floating
sex workers. Cinema hall, bus stoppage, launch terminal, railway station, amusement
park, foot over bridge, under pass crowded place are their common location. They are
often treated as Roaming sex workers.
d) Disguised sex workers (i.e. students, housewives): Now a day, the
numbers of disguised sex workers are increasing in Bangladesh. Students
of different educational institutes, housewives, sales girls, customer
care/relation executives, media beauties, actress, fashion models,
business partners and women of other occupations who engage
themselves in sex work belong to this group. It is very difficult to
recognize this type of sex workers unless they expose themselves.
e) Street Workers: Sex workers who ply their trade in public areas, usually standing on
street corners or in front of buildings where their potential customers can find them. Upon
making an acceptable negotiation with a client, the sex worker can either take the client to a
nearby motel or other private room, or can take care of business in the client's car. Recently, a
new variation of public sex work has developed. Inventive and highly motivated sex workers are
plying their trade out of vans and small trucks, which they park in large parking lots (such as
supermarkets) in anticipation of men, at the end of a work day, passing through on their way
home. This allows the sex worker greater mobility and allows for a quicker get-a-way when the
cops come around.
f) Brothel Sex Workers: Sex workers who work in a building, house, apartment which is
specifically designated as a place where prostitution takes place on a regular basis. A brothel can
be an apartment jointly shared by numerous sex workers who only use the apartment for their
work, or it can be a large building with many rooms specifically designed for adult entertainment.
g) Call Girls: Call girls are commercial sex workers who are part-timers and are usually
more educated, carry cell-phones, and are well groomed and cannot be compared to those living
in brothels. They have more mobility, earn higher incomes and have some freedom in choosing
their customers who are mostly from the middle and upper classes of society. 80% percent of
their customers are married. Many of them suffer from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) at
least once and have experience of induced abortion. Generally call girls are known to take good
care of their health and visit doctors whenever necessary. Almost all of them want their
customers to use condoms, though they most often comply when customers offer a much higher
amount for condom-free sex.

Child Sex Worker

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

The ugliest face of the sex trade in many Asian countries is child prostitution. Many sex workers
have children, but within the brothel communities there is very little discipline or security for
these children and there is the constant risk of sexual abuse or coercion into dangerous adult
activities involving alcohol or drug abuse. Sex workers’ children are systematically denied
access to government primary schools, and suffer psychological, physical, and sexual abuse by
customers, police, and society in general. Birth rates in brothels are quite high as condoms are
not generally used, and girls who are born in brothels are generally forced into sex work when
they reach puberty, while male children often become pimps, middlemen, or alcohol and drug
sellers and users. Under-age sex workers are especially vulnerable to STD and HIV infection, due
in part to their biological underdevelopment, but mostly because of the typical client demand for
younger sexual partners, who are in no position to negotiate safe sex practices.
An estimated 13,000 children in Bangladesh are prey to the commercial sex industry of
the country. More than 20,000 children are born and live in the 18 registered red-light areas of
Bangladesh. Children born here live everyday life watching their mothers being exploited and
ultimately resigning themselves to the same exploitation. Small children help their mothers in
household chores and bring refreshments for their mother’s customers. Boys tend to become
pimps once they grow up and girls continue in their mothers’ profession. Most girls enter the
occupation before the age of 12.
The Government of Bangladesh is a signatory of the UN Convention on Rights of the
Child and the ILO Convention 182 on Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labor. The
government’s main approach has also been towards victimizing women and children in
prostitution and closing down these operations. This coupled with corruption within the
government and law enforcement system has resulted in the government’s failure to combat child
prostitution. National and local NGOs working in the field have accused the government of not
having a national plan to combat child prostitution and largely deemed it’s initiatives so far as
unsuccessful. People can make a difference by voicing their opinion against the government’s
slack in effectively fighting against the growing numbers of child sex workers. Every child has
the right to a childhood free of such misery and as a signatory of the UN Convention on Rights of
the Child and the ILO Convention 182; it is our responsibility to provide our children this
environment.

Legality and Social views

Sex workers should have the same rights as workers in other industries. Unfortunately, because
the sex industry is frequently regulated, sex workers have less autonomy and control in their work
than other workers. The main argument put forward against the regulation of the sex industry
which would ensure that sex workers have occupational conditions enjoyed by workers in other
industries, is that sex work is inherently exploitative. The fact that laws are responsible for the
creation of exploitative conditions within the sex industry is usually ignored.
Depending on regional law, sex workers’ activities may be regulated, controlled,
tolerated, or prohibited. In most countries, even those where sex work is legal, sex workers can be
stigmatized and marginalized, which can prevent them from seeking legal redress for
discrimination (e.g., racial discrimination by a strip club owner), non-payment by a client, assault
or rape. Social inequality and poverty are often seen the driving forces. However, some people

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

turn to the escort industry for certain lavish lifestyle accommodations it can offer and use services
that offer advice on how to run an escort business or on how to become an escort safely and
successfully.10[11] The constitution of Bangladesh preserves the right of each citizen and allow to
freedom of choice. Article 27 states, “all citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal
protection of law.”12 Article 28 states, “the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on
grounds only of religion, race, cast, sex or place of birth.” Sub section 4 of this article illustrates
clearly, “nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making special provision in favor of
women or children or for the advancement of any backward section of citizens.” Article 32 states,
“no person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty save in accordance with law.” In respect to
freedom of profession or occupation Article 40 states, “subject to any restrictions imposed by
law, every citizen possessing such qualifications, if any, as may be prescribed by law in relation
to his/her profession, occupation, trade or business shall have the right to enter upon any lawful
profession or occupation, and to conduct any lawful trade or business.”

Sex Work and HIV/AIDS

An important and alarming factor to situation analysis of sex workers in Bangladesh is
HIV/AIDS. Though socio-economic and cultural barriers are hindering the overall progress of the
country in many sectors including the status of health of the people, the health issues concerned
with the commercial sex workers are more severe and worst among all. Sex work is central to an
epidemic that is primarily spread by unprotected heterosexual intercourse. It is also a feature of
all countries and cultures, encompassing a wide range of people and behaviors. Sex work can
involve men and transgender people, as well as women. People who are engaged in selling sex
obviously have multiple sex partners and are therefore highly vulnerable to several Sexual
Transmission Diseases (STDs/STI) and HIV/AIDS infection. Because they have many sexual
partners, they are also more likely to transmit the virus to other people unless condoms are always
used. Study shows, street sex workers contracting HIV/AIDS through unprotected sex with HIV
infected men and sexual abuse has become a persistent problem, especially in South Asia.
Bangladesh is still a low prevalence country (HIV-infection rate is less than 1%), but
there is a potential for expanding HIV/AIDS epidemic in the future, because the country is very
receptive to HIV infection. Sex work exists at significant levels in Bangladesh, and condom use is
low. In Bangladesh, sex workers in brothels as well as on the streets reported rather high client
turnover, by Asian standards. Women working in brothels nationwide averaged 19 customers a
week and street workers reported between 12 and 16 in different cities. Consistent condom use is
among the lowest in the region.
Sexually transmitted diseases/ infections - also known as STDs/STIs and once called venereal
diseases - are infectious diseases that spread from person to person through intimate/ sexual
contact. There are different kinds of STDs, some kinds of STDs are very dangerous for human
health. It can cause permanent damage, such as infertility (the inability to have a baby) and even
death. HIV/AIDS is one of the STDs/STIs that are on the rise in sex workers and Injection Drug
Users. On a regional basis, infected men probably outnumber infected women by a factor of 3 to

10
Ethiopia: Poverty forcing girls into risky sex work
11
Kenya: Desperate times: women sell sex to buy food
12
The constitution of Bangladesh

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

1 or more, since commercial sex customers, injecting drug users and men having sex with men
have contributed most strongly to the rapid initial growth of the epidemic. This male/female ratio
is expected to drop as the epidemic spreads into the general population through spread of HIV
from customers of sex workers to their regular partners and spouses.

Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, female sex workers and their children are ostracized by the wider community.
Children who live in brothels are shut out of school, increasing their vulnerability to becoming
sex workers, as without an education they have few job alternatives. Sometimes the police use the
services of sex professionals by blackmailing them, force the floating sex workers to pay them
money, and arrest them and send them to jail without any charge, where, more often than not,
they are raped. Though the Department of Social Welfare established the Vagabond Centre to
rehabilitate beggars or vagrants, not sex workers, the law enforcing personnel frequently take the
sex workers and keep them confined in the Vagabond Centres.
The floating sex workers are most disadvantaged among all the commercial sex workers
in Bangladesh. They face a tremendous discrimination and violation of human rights after their
death. The sex workers of different brothels in Bangladesh are now facing the threat of being
evicted any day. Tanbazar and English road, the oldest and largest brothels in Bangladesh were
evicted few years ago in the name of rehabilitation of sex workers. Tanbazar was reputed to be
about two hundred years old and there were more than 3000 sex workers living there with their
children and it is said that the earnings from this brothel supported not only other commercial
activities within the brothel (shops, etc) but also extended families of the sex workers. However,
the sex workers of these brothels were never consulted at any stage of the rehabilitation plan
although it was always reiterated that this rehabilitation is with and for the sex workers. The sex
workers were not allowed to express their views in any stage of this sort of eviction. The women
in these two brothels were being forced out against their will, violating all human rights, a right to
freedom of movement, right to shelter, right to security. Sex-workers Network of Bangladesh and
Human Rights Coalition - Shonghoti, an alliance of more than 86 organizations (NGOs, Human
rights, Social development and Women organizations) jointly organized a protest rally in
Bangladesh capital in May 24, 2005 for protecting and promoting sex workers’ human rights.
Thousands of Sex Workers and Human rights activists participated the rally in central Shahid
Minar area capital of Bangladesh. They shouted slogans against the eviction and raised logics like
sex worker community would be more vulnerable and worst affected after this step. Sex workers
network of Bangladesh raised their strong protest from the gathering and felt that such decision
will snatch the individual freedom and will push the sex workers in more harassment situation to
pimps, miscreants and law enforcing agencies and sex workers will fail to take decision on their
body and their life.

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 Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

As a result of such eviction, a good number of sex workers shifted to different part of the
country and started their same occupation in other brothels. Few of them are still moving here and
there and living in a vulnerable situation. After that eviction Banyashanta became the shelter for
some of these destitute sex workers. Here they live with their children and other dependent
members. Most of the children of this brothel usually engage themselves in fishing. Very few of
them use to go to govt. schools. Due to discriminative outlook of other students towards them,
they feel uneasy to attend school regularly. When start study in primary school, everybody has a
different look at them. As if they are unwanted there, societal indifference and apathy towards
children of sex workers is one of the primary reasons for growing numbers of child sex workers.
Most of the children of sex workers have no other relatives to care for them, and if they
occasionally leave the brothel, society denies them and their mothers their rights, particularly
regarding freedom of movement and access to basic education, health care or alternative
employment options.

International Role for the Sex workers

International Committee for Prostitutes’ Rights (ICPR) introduced World Charter for Sex
workers’ Rights in the early ninety. That charter focus on the following issues:
Laws
a) Decriminalize all aspects of adult prostitution resulting from individual decision.
b) Decriminalize prostitution and regulate third parties according to standard business
codes. It must be noted that existing standard business codes allow abuse of sex workers.
Therefore special clauses must be included to prevent the abuse and stigmatization of sex workers
(self-employed and others).
c) Enforce criminal laws against fraud, coercion, violence, child sexual abuse, child labor,
rape, racism everywhere and across national boundaries, whether or not in the context of
prostitution.
d) Eradicate laws that can be interpreted to deny freedom of association, or freedom to
travel, to sex workers within and between countries. Sex workers have rights to a private life.
Human Rights
a) Guarantee sex workers all human rights and civil liberties, including the freedom of
speech, travel, immigration, work, marriage, and motherhood and the right to unemployment
insurance, health insurance and housing.
b) Grant asylum to anyone denied human rights on the basis of a "crime of status," be it
prostitution or homosexuality.
Working Conditions
a) There should be no law which implies systematic zoning of prostitution. Sex workers
should have the freedom to choose their place of work and residence. It is essential that sex
workers can provide their services under the conditions that are absolutely determined by
themselves and no one else.
b) There should be a committee to insure the protection of the rights of the sex workers and
to whom sex workers can address their complaints. This committee must be comprised of sex
workers and other professionals like lawyers and supporters.

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

c) There should be no law discriminating against sex workers associating and working
collectively in order to acquire a high degree of personal security.
Health
a) All women and men should be educated to periodical health screening for sexually
transmitted diseases. Since health checks have historically been used to control and stigmatize
sex workers, and since adult sex workers are generally even more aware of sexual health than
others, mandatory checks for sex workers are unacceptable unless they are mandatory for all
sexually active people.
Services
a) Employment, counseling, legal, and housing services for runaway children should be
funded in order to prevent child prostitution and to promote child well-being and opportunity.
b) Sex workers must have the same social benefits as all other citizens according to the
different regulations in different countries.
c) Shelters and services for working sex workers and re-training programs for sex workers
wishing to leave the life should be funded.
Taxes
a) No special taxes should be levied on sex workers or sex worker businesses.
b) Sex workers should pay regular taxes on the same basis as other independent contractors
and employees, and should receive the same benefits.
Public Opinion
a) Support educational programs to change social attitudes which stigmatize and
discriminate against sex workers and ex-sex workers of any race, gender or nationality.
b) Develop educational programs which help the public to understand that the customer
plays a crucial role in the prostitution phenomenon, this role being generally ignored. The
customer, like the sex worker, should not, however, be criminalized or condemned on a moral
basis.
c) We are in solidarity with workers in the sex industry.
Organization
a) Organizations of sex workers and ex-sex workers should be supported to further
implementation of the above charter. 13

Findings of the Study

The study reveals, majority of the sex workers, 93.75% live in miserable condition. Though
their income is essential to household survival, 50% of these women earn within the range of
BDT 500/- to 1000/- in a month. Only 31.25% can earn more than BDT 1000/- in a month and
15.62% earn within the range of BDT 200/- to 500/-. Following table shows a brief picture of the
sex workers in Banyashanta brothel:

13
International Committee for Prostitutes’ Rights (ICPR), Amsterdam 1985, Published in Pheterson, G
(ed.), A Vindication of the Rights of Whores. Seattle: Seal Press, 1989. (p.40)

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

Table - 1: Indicators expressing the basic information of the Sex workers

Indicators Response No. of Respondents (%)

Age limit below 15 10 6.25
15-25 40 25.00
25-35 38 23.75
35-45 32 20.00
45-55 35 21.87
55 above 05 3.12
Total - 160 100
Religion Muslim 115 71.87
Hindu 45 28.12
Total - 160 100
Marital status married 64 40.00
unmarried 30 18.75
widow 04 2.5
divorced/separated 62 38.75
Total - 160 100
Educational background illiterate 11 6.8
know signing 40 25.0
below SSC 70 43.7
below HSC 39 24.37
Total - 160 100
Duration in this brothel below 6 months 15 9.38
below 1 year 20 12.5
1-5 years 45 28.13
5-10 years 40 25
10-20 years 30 18.75
20 years above 10 6.2
Total - 160 100
No. of dependent members 0-2 110 68.75
2-5 25 15.62
5-8 5 3.12
none 20 12.5
Total - 160 100
Heard about HIV/AIDS yes 158 98.75
no 02 1.25
Total - 160 100
View towards this job enjoyable 30 18.75
accustomed 60 37.5
unexpected 50 31.25
forced to do 20 12.5
Total - 160 100
About HIV/AIDS patient yes 02 1.25
don’t know 158 98.75
Total - 160 100
Socio-economic condition poor 10 6.25
wretched 130 81.25

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

solvent 20 12.5
Total - 160 100
Want to quit this occupation yes 120 75
no 40 25
Total - 160 100
Medicare service from Govt. hospital 20 12.5
NGO worker 130 81.25
private physician 10 6.25
Total - 160 100

It is evident from the research that the sex workers are living in a poor and hard life.
Their family members are little bit dependent on them. Most of them addressed their socio-
economic condition as wretched (81.25%). A portion of them (50%) feel neglected in the society.
Majority of the sex workers (98.75) heard about HIV/AIDS. Despite this, they are bound to
continue this occupation. 37.5% of these sex workers reported, they have to meet about 2 to 5
customers, 6.25% meet 5 to 10 customers, 25% meet 1 to 2 customers daily. Though most of the
customers (96.87%) use condom during sex; some of them (3.12%) do not. Among them 83.87%
customers use condoms regularly, 6.25% sometimes and 15.62% if requested. Most of these
customers are boatmen, fishermen or hawker by occupation (37.5%), 18.75% are petty
businessmen, 12.5% are tourists or visitors, 9.37% are NGO workers, 6.25% are respectively
local news reporters, local elites and police persons, the rest 3.12% belong to government
services. Regarding the behavior of the customers, 50% reported them friendly, 31.25% do rude
behavior, 9.37% are discourteous, 6.25% become wild like animals and only 3.12% seems polite
towards the sex workers. 25% of the respondents agreed that they often become injured by the
customers, of them 95% are victim of biting and 5% are of beating. In respect to social services,
most of the respondents reported, they do not get any type of allowances like: old age allowance,
widow allowance, medicare facility, VGF card, relief support or loan facility. Moreover, they do
not get any kind of police protection or legal support in case of social exploitation or harassment.
These destitute women face a huge dose of problems and hazards in their daily life that is still
unknown to the society. Following table illustrate such problems that they usually face and feel:

Table - 2: Problems the Sex workers face usually

Type of problem No. of respondent Percentage (%)

Hazards usually face harassment 15
teasing 45
abuse 20
forced sex 80
Total - 160

Major portion of the respondents expressed their view as victim of forced sex (80%).
Another portion (45%) mentioned teasing as an acute trouble they usually face. The term abuse
(20%) and harassment (15%) have been mentioned simultaneously that they do not want to see in
their daily life. In respect to social rehabilitation program, majority of them (75%) want to quit

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

this occupation. The rest 25% prefer this life because of social neglect, negative attitude and
detesting view of the society towards them. Following table represents data on causes behind
their joining to this occupation.

Table - 3: Causes behind joining to this occupation

Causes No. of respondent Percentage (%)

Own desire 30 18.75
Forced by someone 40 25
Inherited from mother 50 31.25
Sold by someone 40 25
Total 160 100

Most of the respondents blamed inheriting (31.25%) as the primary cause that made them
sex workers. Rest of them mentioned sold by someone (25%), forced by someone (25%), and
own desire (18.75%) as the main causes behind their present life. It is very pity to state that in
some cases, father, husband, close relatives or lover sold innocent girls in this brothel and since
then they are in this occupation. Some of them mentioned, due to torture and wild behavior of
husbands they flew away from another district and took shelter in this brothel. In a word, sex
workers often face disproportionately high mortality and morbidity rates, low literacy rates and
high levels of poverty due to social discrimination. Their children do not get proper treatment
from the society, even from their schools. Community people do hesitate to mix with them even
to talk to them. It is their firm belief, if these issues are eliminated from their life and society; sex
workers can lead a sound and peaceful lives like others.

Conclusion and Recommendations

On the basis of the above discussion it is wise to show a gateway that may break the silence to
bring out the entire development of the sex workers in Bangladesh. In the light of the study it is
heartfelt demand of the sex workers that Government as well as the concerned organizations may
initiate pragmatic skill development programs that will proof them eligible, competent and skilled
for a civil job. In order to increase their literacy rate, scholarship program and educational
opportunity for their children may be encouraged. As an honor to our constitution, they should be
given preference in the job market. Small and medium entrepreneurship initiative through loan
support may be launched. Awareness development campaign may play a vital role in their
development process. With a view to educate them with the concept ‘Gender development’ a
series of workshop, seminar, training programs and conferences may be designed. Above all, a
commitment for the total welfare of the sex workers is earnestly required from each corner. Here,
the researchers, trainers, media executives, journalists and other professionals who are willing to
work for them can work as change agents for the welfare of the sex workers.
Their children should be protected from sex related exploitation, disease and
discrimination and have the opportunity for education and assimilation into society as well
adjusted young adults. In Bangladesh, in order to address the issues of the sex workers in an
appropriate and befitting manner and alleviate their sufferings, both government and NGOs must
come up with some specific programs in relation to social education through mass media, secure

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

place and environment for sex workers.14 Additionally, few institutional set up and pragmatic
initiatives are really needed to rehabilitate this group of women. Above all we should not forget,
“they are the half of the society - without them the society is paralyzed. They have to wake up -
they have to think themselves free - they do not want negligence any more - they want dignity and
honor. If these women sit idle - the society will not proceed. So they have to be given equal rights
to that of men - they can build up - they can conquer the world - they can do everything. But need
support and recognition.”

------

References

1. Agustín, Laura Maria. Sex at the Margins. London: Zed Books (2007).
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4. Baptie, Trisha (2009-04-29). "Sex worker? Never met one!". Sisyphe.org.
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http://www.insticeagestudies.com/library/commercial-sex-workers-in-urban-bangladesh.shtml

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Situation of the Sex workers in Bangladesh: Experience from Banyashanta Brothel

15. The Etymology of the terms ‘Sex Work’ and ‘Sex Worker’, BAYSWAN.org. Accessed
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