Labeling sex work as “shameless” and “antisocial,” Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee (body to resist anti-social activities), a so-called citizens’ committee in Tangail has now called for a dawn to dusk hartal for December 24 in the town.
The announcement came in protest to the police action on its scheduled rally yesterday demanding eviction of around 600 sex workers from the 200-year-old Kandapara brothel of Tangail.
“Shameless and antisocial activities cannot be allowed to continue in a civilised society. Prostitution will be opposed until we have the last drop of blood left in our bodies,” said Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee General Secretary Maolana Abdul Jalil at a meeting yesterday.
Yesterday after the Jum’a prayers, supporters of the committee came out of different mosques and started gathering in front of the Tangail Central Mosque to bring out a protest procession.
As the procession marched towards the brothel, police barred them near the Shaheed Minar at Nirala intersection of the town.
Imam of Tangail Central Mosque Maolana Shamsuzzaman said: “We are conducting movements for the sake of peace and Islam. Police cannot stop our movement.”
Members of Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee, a body patronised by Mayor Shahidur Rahman Khan alias Mukti and several other local Awami League leaders, said they would continue movements following legal procedure as the High Court had allowed the sex workers to return to the brothel.
“We demand for legal action to close down the brothel, alongside, we would continue our movements in a peaceful manner,” said the Imam.
On behalf of the evicted sex workers, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association President Fawzia Karim Firoze submitted a writ petition to the High Court, following which the court ordered the Home Ministry, Local Government and Rural Development Ministry, Tangail District Commissioner, Police Super and Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee Chairman Maolana Abdul Aziz and General Secretary Maolana Abdul Jalil to ensure the safe return of the sex workers to their properties on December 9.
Hundreds of sex workers started returning to the brothel on December 15.
Regarding the High Court order, Maolana Shamsuzzaman said: “Perhaps High Court has given the order considering the safety of the prostitutes. However, there was no prostitute in this zone for long. Someone might have given wrong information to the High Court.”
Earlier on July 12, around 1500 house owners including 600 sex workers were ousted by the supporters Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee.
After nearly two months, on September 3, at least 100 of the sex workers took position in the vacate brothel, however, they were again forced to leave within two days by the district administration given the assurance of rehabilitation.
