Situation Of The Sex Workers In Bangladesh

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

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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.

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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) [email protected] / 880-01817528067 1

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. 2

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’ 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 8

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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 5

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 Kenya: Desperate times: women sell sex to buy food 12 The constitution of Bangladesh 11

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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.

a) b)

c)

d)

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 Decriminalize all aspects of adult prostitution resulting from individual decision. 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). 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. 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. 8

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) 9

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

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

Total Religion Total Marital status

Total Educational background

Total Duration in this brothel

Total No. of dependent members

Total Heard about HIV/AIDS Total View towards this job

Total About HIV/AIDS patient Total Socio-economic condition

Response below 15 15-25 25-35 35-45 45-55 55 above Muslim Hindu married unmarried widow divorced/separated illiterate know signing below SSC below HSC below 6 months below 1 year 1-5 years 5-10 years 10-20 years 20 years above 0-2 2-5 5-8 none yes no enjoyable accustomed unexpected forced to do yes don’t know poor wretched

No. of Respondents 10 40 38 32 35 05 160 115 45 160 64 30 04 62 160 11 40 70 39 160 15 20 45 40 30 10 160 110 25 5 20 160 158 02 160 30 60 50 20 160 02 158 160 10 130

(%) 6.25 25.00 23.75 20.00 21.87 3.12 100 71.87 28.12 100 40.00 18.75 2.5 38.75 100 6.8 25.0 43.7 24.37 100 9.38 12.5 28.13 25 18.75 6.2 100 68.75 15.62 3.12 12.5 100 98.75 1.25 100 18.75 37.5 31.25 12.5 100 1.25 98.75 100 6.25 81.25 10

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

Total Want to quit this occupation Total Medicare service from Total

solvent yes no Govt. hospital NGO worker private physician -

20 160 120 40 160 20 130 10 160

12.5 100 75 25 100 12.5 81.25 6.25 100

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 socioeconomic 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 Hazards usually face

Total

No. of respondent harassment teasing abuse forced sex -

Percentage (%) 15 45 20 80 160

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 11

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 Own desire Forced by someone Inherited from mother Sold by someone Total

No. of respondent 30 40 50 40 160

Percentage (%) 18.75 25 31.25 25 100

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 12

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. 2.

Agustín, Laura Maria. Sex at the Margins. London: Zed Books (2007).

Anwara Begum. Magical Shadows: Women in the Bangladeshi Media. New Delhi, South Asian Publication. 2008. xiv, 282, ISBN 81-7003-316-05. 3. Bangladeshe Jounata Bikri: Jiboner Dame Kena Jibika (Selling sex in Bangladesh: Livelihood at the cost of life) SEHD, Dhaka. 4. Baptie, Trisha (2009-04-29). "Sex worker? Never met one!". Sisyphe.org. 5. 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. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Hilton San Francisco and Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel, San Francisco, CA. 6. Ditmore is a contributor to Trafficking and Prostitution Reconsidered (Paradigm, 2005). 7. Dr. Ditmore (ed). The Encyclopedia of Prostitution and Sex Work (Greenwood Press, 2006). 8. "Decriminalize sex trade: Vancouver report", CBC.ca, June 13, 2006. 9. "HIV Prevention and Sex Workers". http://www.avert.org/sex-workers.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-15. 10. International Human Rights Protection in the Citizenship Gap: The Case of Migrant Sex Workers 11. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, ‘sex worker’

12.

"Prostitution, trafficking, and cultural amnesia: What we must not know in order to keep the business of sexual exploitation running smoothly" by Melissa Farley, Yale Journal of Law and Feminism 18(1):109–144, Spring 2006. "Some words hide the truth. Just as torture can be named enhanced interrogation, and logging of old-growth forests is named the Healthy Forest Initiative, words that lie about prostitution leave people confused about the nature of prostitution and trafficking. The words ‘sex work’ make the harms of prostitution invisible." 13. Sex work: writings by women in the sex industry edited by Frédérique Delacoste and Priscilla Alexander, Cleis Press, 1991 (2nd ed). ISBN 0939416115. 14. "Sex Sells So Tells The Truth Vendor," an extensive interview with a former sex worker 14

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 2009-09-11. 16. The Daily Star. The Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Bill 1998, Some Suggestions for Changes. Dhaka. 23 April 1998. 17. Weitzer, Ronald. 1991. "Sex workers' Rights in the United States," Sociological Quarterly, v. 32, no.1, pages 23–41. 18. Weitzer, Ronald. 2000. Sex for Sale: Prostitution, Pornography, and the Sex Industry (New York: Routledge Press). 19. Weitzer, Ronald. 2009. "Sociology of Sex Work," Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 35

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Whores and other feminists, edited by Jill Nagle, Routledge, 1997. ISBN 0415918227. 21. http://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/prostitution_types_commercial_se x_workers.htm 22. http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p110893_index.html.

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