Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 18:37:33 +0600
From: Nari pokkho <convenor@office.pradeshta.net>
Posted below is a statement on the situation of sex workers and their children in Tanbazar & Nimtoli in Bangladesh. We urge you to support us with solidarity action. Solidarity statements may be sent to Tanbazar Solidarity Action c/o Naripokkho (convenor@naripkho.pradeshta.net) and a note of concern may be sent to the Bangladesh Embassy in your country (fax numbers and email addresses given below).
TANBAZAR ALERT
21 July 1999
The sex workers of Tanbazar and Nimtoli brothels in Bangladesh are now facing the threat of being evicted any day. Jesmin, a sex worker in Tanbazar was murdered in the early hours of June 30, 1999. The women there believe the murder was deliberately planned by local politicians in connivance with the landlords to build public opinion against them and the brothel.
Tanbazar is the oldest and largest brothel in Bangladesh. It is reputed to be about two hundred years old and is situated in the river port town of Narayanganj, 25 kilometres south of the capital city Dhaka. There are more than 3000 sex workers living there with their children and it is said that the earnings from this brothel support not only other commercial activities within the brothel (shops, etc) but also extended families of the sex workers. It is impossible to estimate the true extent of the economic dimension of their support. The reason for the recent murder of Jesmin is conjecture but it is widely believed that the sex workers are now victims of power politics. The brothel is controlled largely by politicians of the opposition political party. The local Member of Parliament (MP) who belongs to the ruling party, Awami League, is seeking to establish his control over the brothel. A 51 member Citizen's Action Committee led by Mr. Shamim Osman, the local MP, has been holding meetings and rallies with the aim of eliminating the brothels in Tanbazar & Nimtoli in the name of "rehabilitation" of sex workers. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) is behind the local MP and the local administration is therefore not willing to protect the rights and interests of the women.
The Prime Minister has recently declared an allocation of Taka 20 million (~ US$ 400,000) for the "welfare" (in other words eviction and so-called "rehabilitation") of the "socially disadvantaged" women. In the meantime a five year project of Taka 100 million (US$ 2,000,000) has been launched by the United Nations Development Programme and the Department of Social Services of the GoB for the "rehabilitation" of Ñdisadvantaged women and their childrenâ living in 4 brothels in Bangladesh. The project has been designed to provide women with skill training, micro-credit, schooling for their children, health education/awareness, etc. which would all be done in the brothels, without force and with full co-operation of the women. However, the sex workers were never consulted at any stage of the project design although it is always reiterated that this "rehabilitation" is with and for the sex workers.
The recent murder of Jesmin in Tanbazar has been used to highlight the Ñunderworldâ nature of brothels and subsequently local community opinion against them has been strengthened. This has also allowed police and other forces to be deployed in the area; the sole effect of which has been to restrict the women. The women are not allowed out and customers are not allowed in. Electricity and water supply were disconnected. Many of these women and their children are now facing starvation from lack of income. It is said that many women have begun to sell their jewelry and other belongings. Several meetings have taken place between the local authorities regarding the future of the brothels. The sex workers were not allowed to express their views in any of these meetings. The local authorities have decided that the brothels will not continue to exist in their present form and eviction will begin as early as possible.
Naripokkho, along with 49 other organisations listed below have come together to express solidarity and mobilise public opinion in support of the sex workers in Tanbazar and Nimtoli. It is our belief that the forces acting to evict the sex workers from the brothel have only their own interests in mind. The women in the two brothels are being forced out against their will, violating all human rights à right to freedom of movement, right to shelter, right to security. We, therefore, demand that the sex workers of Tanbazar and Nimtoli not be evicted and forced out of their profession and homes. These women are citizens who exercise voting rights and therefore have rights like any other citizen of the country. We are concerned that what is now happening in Tanbazar and Nimtoli is just the beginning. In the future all women and children living in brothels in Bangladesh are under threat.
We, therefore, urge all concerned groups, individuals, and organisations to protest against this eviction threat and attack on the livelihood of sex workers.
Naripokkho, Bangladesh Women's Health Coalition (BWHC), Nari Maitree, CARE Bangladesh, Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights, Bangladesh Human Rights Journalists Forum, Coordinating Council for Human Rights in Bangladesh, Women for Women, Utsho Bangladesh, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangstha, Ain-o-Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum, Bangladesh Association of Women for Self Empowerment (BAWSE), Coalition for the Urban Poor (CUP), Legal Awareness Forum, Phulki, Ulka (association of evicted sex workers of Kandupatti brothel), Durjoy (association of floating sex workers of Dhaka), Mukti Nari Sangha (association of sex workers from a brothel in Tangail), Odhikaar, Bibartan, Gonsoshasthaya Kendra, Badda Self Help Centre, Steps Towards Development, Nari Uddug Kendra, Theatre Centre, Prodipan, SARPV, Association for Social Advancement, Centre for Rehabilitation for the Paralysed, Concerned Women for Family Planning, Massline Media Centre, National Forum of Organization Working With the Disabled, Uddipan, Breaking the Silence, Institute of Democratic Rights, Action Aid, Assistance for Slum Dwellers, Prottoy, Thengamara Mohila Shabuj Shangha, STD/AIDS Network, Voluntary Health Services Society, Proshika, Shoishob Bangladesh, Shaptadinga, Rural Health and Development Society, Organisation for Mothers & Infants, ASD, SSUK
Embassies of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Washington, USAFax: 202 333 4971
E-mail: BanglaEmb6@aol.com
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: 279266
Ottawa, Canada
Fax: 613 567 3213
E-mail: bdootcanda@josphere.net
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Fax: 941 681309
Paris, France
Fax: 46519035
E-mail: Bdootpar@club-internet.fr
Manila, Philippines
Fax: 8164941
E-mail: bdootmnl@amanet.net