The government is determined to rehabilitate' all sex workers In the country in phases, state minister for social welfare Mozzammel Hossain said yesterday.
The minister said that a section of sex workers from Tanbazar and Nimtali were rescued to avoid occurrence of serious casualties there.
The eviction was hurriedly carried out after vested quarters in the area provoked them to go for rampage at the brothel. To prevent further danger it was necessary to save the sex workers of the brothels, he alleged.
He said that vested groups tried to make a horrific situation at the two brothels following a government decision to rehabilitate the sex workers. Mala, a sex worker was killed on July 7 during the agitation.
Most sex workers from the two brothels of Narayanganj moved to the brothels in Tan-gail and Mymensingh. Social service department is also in-vestigating Into it and they will immediately taken up for motivation. he further said.
The minister also alleged that none of the sex workers were driven from the brothels but they fled the place, as they felt insecure.
When asked about a news item carried by different dailies in which he alleged journalists continuously write against the government's eviction after taking 'bribe', he said that some Cie went to the shelter ;s posing as journalists and urged sex workers to climb on top of a tree and provoked them to commit suicide and even offered them to buy kerosene.
"We were doing according to (our) plan but the situation deteriorated after a sex worker was killed at Tanbazar by agitating people, he said.
He said that UNDP would provide the motivation part of the program while the ministry will be responsible for rehabilitation.
When asked if UNDP has refused to disburse the money for rehabilitation of the sex workers. he said he was unaware of any such development. However. even we do not receive the money (from UNDP), the government will continue with the project.
A deputy director of the department was engaged to gather information from others brothels of the country. Motivation work of the sex workers in different brothels of the country has already started.
The minister said that we are willing to help these ill-fated women who were forced to
stay in the brothels under difficult circumstances. Lot of sex workers has already narrated their sorrowful stories of being unwilling to continue the trade, he added?
The process of motivation of the sex workers of Goalunda -and Mymensingh will begin soon.
We tried to bring journalists to the shelter home but a few sex workers instigated by vested groups protested the presence of journalists," he alleged.
He also said that sex workers of Pubail shelter home were motivated and they are interested to return to 'normal life'.
We have taken positive measure to rehabilitate the sex workers. At present we have paid Tk 7 thousand to each sex worker but we have also decided to give more to those who really want to be rehabilitated." the minister said.
In addition, the sex workers will get a further amount if they get married. A five-year fixed deposit will be given to each sex worker Just to protect his or her social security.
He further said the at least 3000 sex workers were given jobs in a number of garments' factories during the last ten years while 150 sex workers were provided jobs at other garments’ factories during the last one year. Of them only 18 are missing.
When asked why the de7 Sartment is not interested to nd out the reasons why these people chose the profession, the minister said the government is amending the women and children repression prevention act very soon.
The minister also said that they are investigating whether the areas of Tanabazar and Nimtoli brothels belong to the government.
Asked about the huge number of floating sex workers which is creating public nuisance in the city, he mentioned that they would also be send to the shelters soon by the end of the year.