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Evicted sex workers start returning to Kandapara

Demand rights to permanent stay, proper security

Our Correspondent, Tangail
The sex workers and house owners of Kandapara brothel in Tangail town started returning at the 200-year-old brothel yesterday.
Earlier on luly 12, around 1500 house owners including 600 sex workers were evicted by the supporters of the Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee (Body to resist anti-social activities) patronised by several local Awami League (AL) leaders.
In face of continuous threat, the land owners of the brothel later dismantled away their houses and structures within one week.
At least 50 sex workers and house owners returned to the brothel at around 2:00pm yesterday and started constructing makeshift structures there. Later, the number rose to more than 100 at 4:00pm.
The returnees also chanted different slogans, demanding protection of their rights to live at the brothel and seeking punishment of those who forced them out, including one local culprit, Badsha Koshai.
Sex worker Nilu said, she had 20 rooms at the brothel and she along with her girls were moving on streets hungry and helpless after the eviction.
"None rents out house to us while the drug addicts torture the girls on the streets," she said.
"As we were dying due to
the eviction, we finally decided to die at the brothel," she added.
Sex worker Shanti had 18 rooms at the brothel. She said study of her children was stopped since the eviction and she finally returned to the brothel as she had no other option.
Joba, owner of seven rooms at the brothel, said none extended any aid to her after the eviction and she now wants nothing but security.
The house owners and sex workers also said that before returning to the brothel, they
met with the high officials ofthe district administration including the Deputy Commissioner and Superindent of Police in Tangail.
We told them about our decision to return and also demanded return of our lands, said several sex workers.
The leaders of different women and human rights organisations joined hands with them.
Saleh Mohammed Tanvir, Superintendent of Police in Tangail, however, told this correspondent no sex worker met him physi-
cally but informed the matteroverphone.
"I have suggested them to file a case in this regard and police will perform their duties to give them due security," he added.
An administrative team,a comprising Sarwar Alam, additional district magistrate (ADM) in Tangail, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Mohammad Zaman, district women affairs officer Selima Khan, assistant commissioner (land) Mohammad Aslam, vice-chairman of Sadar upazila Lipi Akter, and officer in-charge
ofTangail Model Police Station Akhtaruzzaman went to the spot at around 4:30pm and talked to the returnees.
The returnees chanted different slogans in front of the officials and demanded permanent stay at their place and sought proper administrative security.
The officials then sat with three representatives of the sex workers at Sadar upazila parishad office and discussed their problems.
Selima Khan, women affairs officer ofTangail, said the sex workers were assured of necessary security and rehabilitation.
They were also told that the land owners will get back their lands on submission of applications with required documents of their ownership, she said.
"They were also requested to look for alternatives and not to encourage other sex workers to return to the brothel," she said, adding that a meeting will be held with their leaders over the issue today.
Meanwhile, hearing the return of the sex workers to the brothel, a procession was brought out from Central Jam-e Mosque after the Asr prayer under the banner of Qaumi Olama Parishad. The processionists tried to go to the brothel area but police barred them in front of the Tangail Model Police Station.
At a rally there, the speakers vowed to resist any bid to reintroduce the brothel on the spot.