ASSIGNMENT

Topic: Sex worker Community in Bangladesh.

Course Title: Introduction to Community Development.
Course code: GED 357
Section: 01

Submitted By:
1. Sharia Akter (101011178)
2. Sharmin (101011067)
3. Shubho Saha (101011056)

Submitted To:
Mohammad Ehsanul Kabir
Course Instructor
Introduction to Community Development


Submission Date: April 12, 2013
UNIVERSITY OF LIBERAL ARTS BANGLADESH (ULAB)

Introduction
The sex worker is generally called prostitute. The word prostitute comes from the Latin word
prostituta. It is the combination of "Pro" meaning up front or forward and "situere", defined
as to offer up for sale. So "prostituta" meaning "to put up front for sale" or "to place forward".
But in late 1970s most sex worker activists groups reject the word "prostitute" and used the term
sex worker instead. Sex workers generally refer to that section of women who are engaged,
legally or illegally, part time or full-time, regular or irregular sexual acts for money or for any
other material gain. But there is a small number of male sex workers found in all EU countries
and others. So generally it can tell, sex worker is a person who works in the sex industry.
Globally, the sex industry is the third largest area in the black economy right after the drug
and arms trade. Sex trafficking and prostitution of women and girls have spread to every corner
of the world. The largest numbers of sex workers come from Asia.
- Katja Harapainen
Prostitution is not a new phenomenon in Bangladesh. Although religion does not permit
prostitution. But law of the country does not prevent a woman from becoming a prostitute if she
likes to be. So it is legal in Bangladesh and it was legalized in 2000. It is illegal to ask for sex on
the street, it is legal to sell sex in brothels and red light districts. Local NGOs estimated that
recently in the Bangladesh total number of female sex workers to be as many as 100,000 and 18
recognized red-light districts across the country. There are currently 14 brothels (a place where
men go and pay to have sex with prostitutes) in this country, including seven in Dhaka Division,
six in Khulna Division and one in Barishal Division. In below (figure 1) show the name and
location of the brothel. Among of these, the Doulatdia brothel (situated on the bank of Padma
river,Rajbari district, Dhaka Division) is considered to be the largest in Bangladesh. Estimates of
the size of the sex worker population in Doulatdia range from 1100 (Terre des Hommes [TDH],
2005) to 1300 (Abohelito Mahila O Shishu Unnayan Shangstha, n.d.).






















Figure - 1: Brothel Name & Location in Bangladesh
Brothel in Bangladesh
DHAKA DIVISION KHULNA DIVISION BARISHAL DIVISION
JAMALPUR
DISTRUCT
FARIDPUR
DISTRICT
TANGAIL
DISTRICT
RAJBARI
DISTRICT
MADARIPUR
DISTRICT
Ranijanj
Brothel
Mymensing
Brothel
Kandapara
Brothel
Puranbazar
Brothel
C&B Brothel
Doulatdia
Brothel
Rothkola
Brothel
JESSORE DISTRICT
Marwar Mondir
Brothel
Babubazar
Brothel
Jhalaipatti
Brothel
Bagerhat brothel
Baniashanta
Brothel
Phultala brothel
KHULNA DISTRICT
Potuakhali
Brothel
Now-a-days sex industry is not only limited in brothels but also the wide spared network which
help to do it more easily. Sex workers are waiting on the road for client or customers then the
client takes them to the hotel or own apartment. Or they contact in internet then take them their
place or clients own place. Their main clients are students, rickshaw pullers, transporters,
policies etc.
On the basis of nature and location, sex workers are classified into following categories:
Brothel Sex workers: Sex workers who work in a building, house, apartment
which is specificall y 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
Street Sex workers: They basically stand aside on the road where they can get their clients
and most of them are waiting at night and some sex workers wait at day time and they are
walking around for finding customers or clients. After that they take their customer to nearby
someplace they haired or their own fixed places.
Commercial Sex workers: Commercial sex is earliest process. The sex workers come from
many locations. They are many types of sex workers, like; some are full-time sex worker,
some are occasionally. Some are willingly sex worker but most of the sex workers are doing
this for others pressure; such as, bad condition of the family; some are caught by dealer of
sex workers.
Disguised Sex workers: Nowadays these groups of sex workers are rapidly increasing in
Bangladesh. They are high profiled people in society, some are students, some are normal
sales worker, customer care executives, models etc. Its hard to spot without any visual proof.
Floating Sex workers: Floating sex worker means those sex workers who live and work in
the street and sell their services there (WHO 2001, 30). They have no fixed place to find
clients. They are walking around us to find potential customer. They are not stable figure.
Seasonal Sex workers: These types of sex workers are work in occasional time. They are
come at those party places and search for customers.
Call Girls: These types of sex workers are modern opposite living style of brothel sex
workers. This sex workers are mostly educated, carrying a cell phone etc. These sex workers
are getting double amount than other sex workers. Their target customers are mid and upper
level male. Their demand is so high then other sex workers.
Escorts: These kinds of sex workers are not visible to the general public nor does she usually
work in an institution like a brothel. Usually they work in an agency. They are only for top
class society. Their demand is so high and clients must make an appointment by their mobile
number.
Although various provisions of different laws prohibit child prostitution and forced prostitution.
But in a study of the Brothel Based Sex Work, TDH (2005) estimated that the typical sex
worker entered the industry between the ages of 13 and 17, below the legal age of 18. The UN
Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimated in 2004 that there were 10,000 underage girls used in the
commercial sex industry in our country, but other estimates that the figure as high as 29,000.
There are various reasons behind the working in a sex industry. Sometimes they have been
kidnapped by gangs, or sold by stepmothers, or comes here by boyfriends with promises of a
good job. Most of the times they come this profession because they have no alternative option.
Due to a variety of complex factors, including legal ambiguities and a conservative society, sex
workers are often denied even the most basic rights. They are victims of an exploitive industry
that leaves them exposed to inhumane conditions, extortion, violence, obligatory drug (oredexon
- dexamethason) use and insufficient access to water, sanitation and health services.









LITERATURE REVIEW
From a child of a sex worker to a child sex worker Zeneida Bernabe (November,
2012)
This article is based on a brothel which is situated in Kandapara in the city of Tangail in
Bangladesh. In this paper, I found two important reasons behind this occupation poverty and
social ignorance. Most of the sex workers want to send their children outside of the brothel for
giving a normal life but sometimes they cannot afford it because of their poverty. If mother
arrange third party to take care their children outside the brothel. But when mothers are not able
to continue their expenses, daughter came back to the brothel. In this type of case mother need to
pushed them to engage with the customer. In this paper Salma, Tania, Monira are the real
example of this situation. Others who are growing up in the brothel they are influencing and
initiated by their mothers profession. According to the paper, Haslima is the example of this
character type. She is much more professional than others and also know how to deal with the
customer. But grow up in the brothel is difficult because all time the environment at the brothel
plays host to corruption, drug consumption, violence, quarrelling, abuse and exploitation.
According this paper the total number of sex workers is 868 and 63 children engaged in sex trade
in Kandapara. On the other hand, even mother bears their expense but the people of the society
negatively treat them and nobody cannot marry them. Only one case identifies two sisters, who
avoided joining their mothers profession. Mother manages to arrange their marriages through a
third party by buying the acceptance of the village leaders and family members of the spouses.
According to my view, the article does not cover the condition of the son of the sex workers. It's
also not give the information about government policies to rehabilitate the sex workers child.

Risk & vulnerabilities of migrant & trafficked women living in J essore
Yasmin Siddiqua, Phd & Waliul Mutasim Matin (November, 2012)
The article is based women on the border district of Jessore who are migrating to India and
Middle East country for the improve of their economic condition. They migrate in an illegal way
by the help of Dalal (paying only took 3000-4000) because legal document is expensive.
Sometimes they migrate with their believing lover or husband. According to the paper, although
dalal committed to giving a better job but most of the time they sold them to brothels or bar
dancer and force them to accept this work. On the other hand who get work as a house made, fish
or vegetable market also faces sexual harassment by local people or house owner. After
betraying by dalal or husband or lover who cannot survive for the reason of cultural, educational
barriers in foreign countries then they come to their own country. In country their community
people also treat them as a sex worker or bar dancer. There are rare cases to lead a good life after
returning country. According to this paper only Rahima worked as a house made in India and
now lead a happy life with her family.

Impact of education on sex workers & their children: case studies from
Bangladesh Dr. M Mahruf C Shohel, Md Ashrafuzzaman, Sheikh Nishat Nazmi, Arup
Ratan Das, Rasel Babu, Muhammad Foysal Mubarak & Md Abdullah Al Mamun
(November, 2012).
The article based on the educational condition of sex worker children in Bangladesh. According
to article Early childhood Development (ECD) program of Mukti Mohila Somiti (MMS) provide
10 pre-primary centers and 3 informal education groups from 2 and half to 3 years old sex
workers children. Another special school is KKS who provides education for 5 to 6 years old
sex workers children. The child can continue their education up to SSC and HSC. Their primary
level schooling and study materials are free. But secondary level they only get free text books
but have to pay fees. They can also learn extra curriculum activities such as dancing, singing,
drawing, reciting, cooking, outdoor games, tailoring etc for self independent. Because general
learning is not enough for ensuring a good job. Although the facility is given by different
organizations for the betterment of sex workers children but due to poverty or lack of social
identity or unsuitable environment cannot continue their education. So the article also proposed
some implication at the end of the research.


QUESTIONNAIRE
1. What is your name & where are you live now?
2. How did you enter this community?
3. Do you have any group? If have what is the structure & the role of your group?
4. How this group help you to solve any problem? (Ex any accident/money problem/ illness)
5. What kind of benefit you get from the community?
6. What kind of entertainment your community provides?
7. Do you have any holiday?
8. How you get your customer?
9. How do you treat with your customer?
10. Do you face any harassment with your customer?
11. What is the range of your daily and monthly income?
12. In which period your profession is more demandable?
13. Tell me about your family?
14. Do you have any child? If have what is their future?
15. What do you think about this job & what is your future plan?
16. If you face any social or financial problems (like someone has to get admitted in hospitals, or
police issues), how do you get support? Do your community provide any supports in that
case?


CASE STUDY
Introduction to Interviewees:
Interviewees Name: Nitu Akter.
Home District: Jessore.
Present Address: Live in Mirpur-12, Dhaka.
Education: Studied in Class 8.
Profession: Sex worker & Super Visor of Care Bangladesh.
Marital Status: Married & Live with Husband.
History of Nitu:
Nitu first came Dhaka at the age of 12. She came out along from her home because of
misunderstanding with her family. In Dhaka first time she started work as a made-servant. Then
she joint garment industry as a worker. But both places she faced sexual harassment by the house
owner. So she left the house. After that A woman took him from the road and promised to give a
work. But after entering the house, the women locked her in the room and 4/5 man raped her.
One day a customer suggests her to do this work at the street and itll be beneficial for her.
Because the women did not give any money for her sex work. So after 20 days by helping of
that customer she left the house and join in the sex industry as a floating sex worker.
Life in the sex worker Community:
First time other floating sex worker cannot accept her as their member. But after convincing the leaders
(experience woman of this profession) they accept him as their member and start journey as a sex worker.
Some leaders also help her to find customer and give shelter, but in this purpose the leader take some
money from her. She waits for her customer some common place such as; Chandrima Uddan,
Sony hall, cinema hall, Shangsad Bhaban, Lake Park, Chirakhana garden, Lonch ghat, Bahador
park.. After the sunset, she waits for her customer in the street. If any customers like her then the
customers take her in their own house, or hotel, or her house. Sometimes she gets customer by
mobile phone and also from her friends. Normally he gets to tk 500 to tk 1000 from each
customer depends on customer income. The amount is increased up to tk 2500 when multiple
customer use him at a time. Her customer bears all expenses like hotel bill, food etc. Her
working place was violated by police and there was no security in road. So one day her friends
suggested her to join in the association of Durjoy Nari Shongo which is the sex workers
association.
Nitu joined in Durjoy Narri Shongo as a cashier in 2003. In this association entrance fee is tk
20 and monthly charges is tk 10 for each member, and this association has 2500 members. This
association aware them about drugs, use of condom, government rule which related to their
profession etc. So after joining the association she can develop herself. This association also
provides legal support if she faces torture by her customer or false case by the police. Because
some police always tries to charge money for different reason, such as floating sex, sunrise to
sunset law etc. If she cannot pay the money, police arrest her to sue many illegal cases, such as
drug, arms or women trafficking. In this situation, Durjoy Nari Shongo helps her to release from
that situation. Sometimes her friends also help her by giving money to release from that place.
She worked 7 years in Durjoy Nari Shongo and because of her good performance in 2011 she
is selected as a supervisor of Care Bangladesh. Care Bangladesh is an association where they
provide general education for sex workers. Now there are 25 schools are established by Care
Bangladesh in Dhaka for sex workers. Because lack of education they face many problems.
Sometimes customers don't pay the money which they promised or by one person payment to do
sex many persons at a time. Now there are many women are educated by this association.
Normally Nitu has no holidays in the sex worker profession but after joining the Care
Bangladesh she can take two holidays. Because this association gives money for her work and
she can manage her expenses. Her demand periods are holidays like; eid, puja, government
holidays and last 10 days of every month because that time her customers get salary and bonus.
As a sex worker she sees that many sex workers are still violated by their customers,
lover/husband, leaders or police. One of her friend is tortured by her husband because of refusing
to give money. If husband doesnt know about their profession then they can lead a normal life.
On the other hand, every new girl is tortured by the leaders in the first time and do not work
independently. Sometimes leaders also sold them in the brothel. On the other side, after closing
the association their suffering days start again. So in the future she wants to run her own
association for the help of actual poor sex worker.
CONCLUSION
Floating sex worker are not legal in our country. So identify themselves is very difficult. To find
the actual scenario is also difficult. Because they try to hide many things to others which create
problem themselves. But if we analyze the sex worker life we can understand, the reason behind
their work, their future, their problem and the solution of their problem is almost same. But their
community is not developed by socially and economically. They are socially negligible and their
human rights frequently violated by their customers or society. Most of the time people treat
them as a rubbish in our society and always insult them for their work. But Everybody should
remember that they are not coming this occupation willingly, there might be a few reasons
behind their profession. So now various organizations are working to protect their basic human
rights and have contributed greatly to the betterment of living and working conditions.

REFERENCES
1. AKM Ahsan Ullah (November, 2005), Prostitution in Bangladesh: An Empirical Profile of
Sex Workers, retrieved (26 March, 2013) from
<http://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1437&context=jiws>

2. Growing up in the red-light district, Bangladeshi pre-teen girls following in prostitute
mothers' footsteps (24 November, 2002), retrieved (7 March, 2013) from
<http://www.wnd.com/2002/11/16007/#1mbgxuSMozDp2g4F.99>

3. Harapainen Katja Thesis (Autumn 2007); SEX WORKERS IN BANGLADESH; Retrieved
(01 December, 2012) from
<http://aidsallianceindia.net/Material_Upload/document/sex%20workers%20bangladesh.pdf >

4. Daniel M. Sabet, Tawhidur Rahman & Sate Ahmad (November, 2012) , Sex Workers and
their Children in Bangladesh: Addessing Risks and Vulnerabilities (A compilation of
research conducted as part of the LEADR Project), Retrieved (1 March, 2013) from
<http://www.ulab.edu.bd/CSD/csd-publications/>


5. Retrieved (6 April, 2013) from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution>