Most of them live hand-to-mouth existences, with about one in nine having the ability to save up and feed themselves. Sex workers from one of the world's largest brothels appealed to the Bangladesh government on Monday for emergency funding after a ban on customers to prevent the spread of coronavirus. More than 1, sex workers are based at the Daulatdia brothel, about km 60 miles west of capital Dhaka, which is one of about 12 officially sanctioned brothels in the South Asian country, and receives an estimated 5, customers every day. Government official Rubayet Hayat, executive officer of the sub-district of Goalanda where the brothel is located, said the aid was expected to arrive late this week. But women working at Daulatdia appealed for immediate help, saying they no longer had money to pay for food for themselves or their children due to the sudden closure of the brothel.
Bangladesh sends food aid to brothels as women fight to survive lockdown
Sex workers in Bangladesh: building resilience during the COVID pandemic | UNAIDS
In an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Bangladesh has temporarily shut down its largest brothel for 15 days till April 5 as the government ordered shutdown of all such centres across the country. The government has offered assistance to the sex workers during the lockdown period. According to the Dhaka divisional office, there are a total of 2, sex workers of four brothels in three districts under the division will get the government aid. Daulatdia brothel on the bank of river Padma and is about km west of Dhaka. The largest brothel in Bangladesh, Daulatdia has around 1, sex workers. It is frequented by around 5, visitors per day. While prostitution is illegal in a Muslim-majority Bangladesh , the government do not largely interfere in the trade, which has been in operation in the country for centuries.
Bangladesh’s largest brothel shut due to COVID-19, sex workers to get govt assistance
Shahnaz Khatun not her real name , a former sex worker now running a small clothing business in Dhaka, Bangladesh, found herself in difficulties when the country went into lockdown. As a result of the COVID pandemic, sex workers in Bangladesh, like other informal sector workers, are experiencing hardship and a loss of income. With the limited support that some of them get, they can barely feed themselves and their children.
We use cookies to improve our service for you. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. Sex workers in Bangladesh often do not get a proper burial due to social stigma. This week's burial has been met with praise by human rights activists. Hamida Begum, who died earlier this week, may be the first sex worker to receive a proper Islamic funeral.