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Bangladeshi sex workers demand end to police harassment
March 3, 2003
Chittagong — Sex workers in Bangladesh Monday staged demonstrations to demand
rights recognition and an end to police harassment.
Some 50 people gathered in front of the Press Club in this southeastern port
city carrying banners that read "Stop repression and torture" and "Rehabilitate
us, we want our rights".
Non-governmental organisations, which organised the rally to mark International
Sex Workers Day, said it was the first ever demonstration by sex workers in the
ordinarily conservative city.
Prostitution is largely tolerated in Bangladesh, which has at least 18 brothels
with around 2,500 registered sex workers, according to the Bangladesh National
Women Lawyers' Association.
But authorities have in recent years cracked down, pushing much of the sex
industry underground.
A similar demonstration was held in the capital Dhaka.
One of the protesters, Fuli, in her late 30s, said she and her fellow workers
were harassed by police and had to give them money or provide their services
for free.
"This must come to an end as we prostitutes have to earn our bread like any
other profession," added Papiya at the Chittagong rally.
"I was kidnapped and sold to a brothel in this city and have compromised my
lifestyle, but I want my rights," another demonstrator, Hasina Akhter, a
15-year-old orphan, told AFP. There are no estimates of underage sex workers in
Bangladesh.
Mohammad Khaled, editor of Bengali-language daily Azadi, told the Chittagong
rally that sex workers' rights must be ensured.
"Circumstances in society forced them to become sex workers and we must do our
bit to give them a better life," he said.
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