65 Sex Workers Missing, 60 Injured

 Ain o Saliah Kendra (ASK) expresses its grave concern and strongly condemns the recent attack, eviction and looting at Madaripur Brothel.

According to different media reports, on 27 August 2013, activists of Islahe Qoum Parishad attacked the brothel situated at Puranbazar of Madaripur and evicted the sex-workers. They ransacked the brothel and injured around 30 sex-workers. It is to be noted that, responding to a writ petition filed by the Ain o Salish Kendra, the High Court issued a rule on 7 May 2013 directing the concerned authority to protect the sex-workers at Madaripur brothel from any sort of harassment. This sudden attack at the brothel has clearly violated the High Court order. Such sudden eviction with any rehabilitation is inhuman and deplorable.

ASK urges the concerned authority to ensure adequate security measures for the sex-workers. We also urge to ensure exemplary punishment for the perpetrators through proper investigation and legal action.

”Give evicted sex workers back their brothel”

As published  in Daily Star

Sex Workers’ Network (SWN) at a human chain yesterday demanded that the sex workers who were forced out from Madaripur Brothel should be safely returned to their brothel.
Sex workers, who lived in the brothel for generations, have now become homeless as activists of an Islamist organisation, Islahe Qoum Parishad, attacked and ransacked the brothel on Tuesday, said leaders of the organisation.
The human chain was formed before Jatiya Press Club in the capital. The leaders of the organisation demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
Joya Sikdar, president of the organisation, said influential political persons backed the perpetrators who attacked the brothel.
Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust, HIV/AIDS Alliance Bangladesh and National AIDS STD Programme expressed solidarity with the human chain.
Meanwhile, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad expressed deep concern at the attack on the brothel.

In a statement, signed by Executive Director of ASK Sultana Kamal, ASK said, “The attack was made despite a High Court ruling in response to a writ petition by ASK that stated that resident of the brothel should not be evicted by force.”
The sudden attack was inhumane and despicable because it was made without any arrangement to rehabilitate the sex workers, it added.
In another statement, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad said the attack was made despite the High Court ruling that stated the residents of the brothel should not be harassed and allowed to continue with their occupation.
On Tuesday, activists of Islahe Qoum Parishad allegedly stormed the brothel at Puranbazar in Madaripur and beat up those women who did not want to leave the brothel.