Daulatdia
Daulatdia
দৌলতদিয়া | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Daulatdia Location in Bangladesh | |
| Coordinates: 23°39′N 88°51′E / 23.650°N 88.850°E | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| District | Rajbari |
Daulatdia (Bengali: দৌলতদিয়া) is a village in Rajbari District, Bangladesh which is the largest brothel in Bangladesh,[1] and has been called one of the largest brothels in the world.[2][3] It is one of 20 officially sanctioned brothels in the country opening around 1988, although it was unofficially in existence for decades prior.[2] Estimates of the number of sex workers in the village range from 1,300 to 2,000.[1][3] Daulatdia services more than 3,000 men daily;[3] these men can pay for sex, take drugs and gamble.[1] It is located less than 40 km from two official Indian border crossings at Darshana/Gede (south) as well as Kutubpur/Teinpur (north).
Controversies
[edit]Though prostitution is only legal in Bangladesh for women aged 18 or older, the average age of newly arriving sex workers is 14,[2] and some sex workers in Daulatdia are as young as 10.[1] Many of them are sold into sex work for the equivalent of about $250 (in 2014), which they are then obligated to pay to pimps who are mostly older women, known as "madams".[1] The sex workers are often tricked by their madams into taking drugs such as Ventolin or Oradexon, which are designed to fatten cattle.[1][3]
2020 temporary closure
[edit]On March 20, 2020, it was ordered closed down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. On March 23, 2020, sex workers from Daulatdia appealed to the Bangladesh government for emergency funding.[4] This ultimately led to the brothels being reopened soon after.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Tania Rashid (4 February 2014). "Sex, Slavery, and Drugs in Bangladesh". Vice News. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ a b c Claudia Hammond (9 January 2008). "'I'm just here for survival'". The Guardian. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Christine Jackman (26 October 2013). "Daughters of the brothel". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "Sex workers in one of world's largest brothel appeal for funds due coronavirus". Reuters. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
External links
[edit]- The children trapped in Bangladesh's brothel village – video (the Guardian)
- KCET Bangladesh Inoculates Older Sex Workers at Biggest Brothel
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