ABOUT 3, Bangladeshi prostitutes dug in their heels yesterday and defied eviction from one of the country's oldest and biggest brothels. The prostitutes, up in arms over their landlords' decision to close the 2,room bordello complex, said they faced starvation if thrown on to the streets without compensation.
They also did not refund Owners of the brothel complex in the Tanbazar red-light district of Narayanganj town have agreed, under pressure from local authorities, to close. Citizens' groups and religious bodies complained that the brothel lured young boys into the sex trade and promoted the illegal sale of alcohol and drugs. But sex workers refused to budge.
Water and power supplies have been cut and police are barring entry to customers, who are said to include political activists, businessmen, students, foreigners - and police. The brothel was established in and has outlived several eviction orders. But this time its owners have been warned that their other business interests will suffer if it is not closed. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium.
It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles.
