Situated on the banks of river Padma, the village of Daulatdia appears to be like any other poor and down-trodden area of Bangladesh. But the tinned roofs, shacks, roughly built houses and tight lanes filled with prostitutes separates this area from rest of Bangladesh.
Prostitution has become a rampant profession across the globe. Legalized in some parts of the world, prostitution has taken an all together new shape in developed nations like Australia, where sex workers not only get to chose their clients but at the same time have an exquisite and lavish lifestyle which is in complete contrast with the shabby and shady streets of Daulatdia.
Most of the sex workers working here have the same tale to tell. Mostly all of them were handed over to maîtresses here by their family members during their childhood days.
The brothel of Daulatdia has almost 2000 women servicing almost 3000 men a day. Young girls who already have their mothers working as a sex worker are left with no option but to follow their mothers’ footsteps. Their kid-like appearance which may not appeal to clients is forcefully enhanced by steroid use. Heavy make up is used by these young prostitutes to conceal their real age.
Oredexon, a cow fattening steroid with lethal side effects, is often used by these kids to look older. The brothel owners, popularly known as ``madam’’ are former prostitutes who have grown old and now buy girls and manage the monetary affairs of the brothel. Becoming a brothel owner someday is the only career option a young prostitute can look up to.
But one another fact that separates this red light area of Bangladesh from other plush brothels of around the world is that here the life of a every sex worker is left to the mercy of her client. Using protection during intercourse is entirely up to the discretion of the client increasing risk of sexually transmitted diseases. If a prostitute tries to raise her voice against this, she is brutally battered by her ``madam’’. Satisfying her customer is the sole motive a prostitute irrespective of how life threatening it is. Unlike other lavish brothels, the prostitutes do not have the luxury to choose their clients.
Like any normal girl even these girls wish to settle down with the man of their dreams. In search of the love they often get hooked with local boys known as ``babus’’. But even here luck does not favor these girls. These ``babus’’ are very often more interested in the money the prostitute is earning. With a decline in her income, the prostitute is abandoned by her so called ``boyfreind’’. Every girl here is aware of this fact but the zeal to lead a normal life pushes them in this pit over and over.
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