Nearly 1000 sex workers of Kandapara brothel in Tangail were forced to leave the houses they rented for their business yesterday as Asamajik Karjakalap Pratirodh Committee (AKPC), a religious organization, gave the house owners an ultimatum to have the brothel vacated soon.
Roji Begum, one of the tenants, said leaders of the AKPC had threatened 56 house owners that they would demolish their houses if they did not have their tenants vacate the houses.
Other tenants, Mina, Aleya, Chan Miah, Abdul Halim, Morjina, Moyna, Rubi, Rahim and Nargis, also echoed Roji.
Shila, 20, a sex worker of Helena Sardarni Resident said she had left the brothel because the AKPC men had threatened them. She said some musclemen had ordered them to leave the brothel immediately, otherwise they would set fire to them.
Like Shila, other sex workers had left their houses with bag and baggage, looking for shelter in different areas of the town.
Sources said ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the influential men were seen distributing leaflets among the local people, seeking their support for the eviction of the sex workers.
When contacted, Akhi Begum, president of Nari Mukti Sanga, said a vested quarter was trying to evict the brothel for their own interest.
They were trying to grab the brothel’s land in the name of a movement, said Akhi.
Mayor Shahidur Rahman Mukti said no complaint was brought to his office regarding the incident.
SP Saleh Mohammed Tanvir said: “If anybody does not complain about the incident, what can we do?”
“We have also deployed additional forces in the area to avoid any unwanted situation,” he said.
When contacted, DC Tangail Mahbub Hossen said if anybody complained about the incident, we would take steps.
A team of administrators headed by Additional Deputy Magistrate Lal Hossen was sent to the spot, he added.
Civil society leaders said the process of eviction would scatter the sex workers across the district, a move which would have a negative impact on society and family values.
Leaders of the AKPC said that they did not threaten the sex workers. They left the brothel on their own.
Earlier, a procession was brought out in the town, demanding the demolition of the brothel. The imam of the district central mosque led the procession under the banner of the AKPC.
After the procession, the agitators submitted a memorandum to the municipality mayor.
In the memorandum, they demanded the eviction of the brothel immediately, threatening tougher movements.
The mayor assured them that he would take initiatives in cooperation with the district administration.