Sex workers keep away from brothel in panic

This red-light area in Madaripur town gives a deserted look as a section of locals hung a signboard inscribed with 'free from prostitutes' after forcing out about 500 sex workers from there on Tuesday. PHOTO: STAR

Police on Tuesday night filed a case against over 2000 unidentified people on charge of attacking and looting a brothel in the district town on the day and forcing out about 500 sex workers.
They also arrested 16 people in connection with the incident till yesterday.
The brothel gave a deserted took yesterday as most of its members died not dare to return fearing fresh attack.
Meanwhile, Islahe Qoum Parishad, an Islamist outfit, at a press conference on Tuesday refuted the allegation of their involvement in the attack and eviction.
Several hundred activists of Islahe Qoum Parishad stormed the brothel at Puranbazar around 11:00am. They beat up at least 30 women who did not want to leave what they call home for generations, said Mamata Rani, president of Bandhobi Nari Sangha, an organisation of sex workers.
The attackers ransacked the 250-year-old brothel and looted valuables, she alleged.
The attack was made despite a July 22 High Court ruling, in which the home ministry and police were asked not to harass residents of the brothel and to allow the sex workers to continue with their occupation for a year.
The members of the Islamist outfit and associations of local traders told newsmen that when a team went to the brothel on Tuesday morning to talk about rehabilitation of the sex workers, a few of them physically assaulted some members of the team.
Hearing the news, agitated traders pulled their shutters down and rushed to the spot along with local people. There was none from Islahe Qoum, they said.
On the other hand, police said they will proceed as per law.
"We will take action against offenders who unleashed terror against the sex workers violating court order," said police superintendent Khonaker Faridul Islam.