Sex work is considered as a social problem which is also the result of other problems such as poverty, exploitation, human trafficking, drug addiction etc. Despite the fact that the biological need can hardly be avoided and some contradiction in law of our country doesn't mean absolute denial of the profession, sex work is illegal in Bangladesh like other Asia Pacific countries. Interviews with evicted sex workers reveal the fact that eviction cannot be the way to solve this social problem and without proper initiative to support them financially, this will only increase the number of floating sex workers or illegal or unprotected sex work outside brothel areas.

Study shows that poverty dominates the causes behind for women to take sex work as profession. Women live from sex work mainly because of financial need. Many NGOs in Bangladesh have been working for the benefits of sex workers while some are directly involved in the process of rehabilitation. Reports of studies conducted by NGOs reveal that many evicted eligible sex workers don't quit their profession. It means they can't give up. Most of the sex workers earn money not only for themselves but also for other people. Through income from sex work they support a large number of people in their families who live outside brothel areas. The sex workers normally keep family members far away from their working place and keep them uninformed about their actual profession. The question of eviction or rehabilitation is linked with the fate of these people. Whenever we think about eviction of brothel areas, we should think also about those people who depend on them.

In cities or towns, brothels are mostly located in densely populated commercial areas. Because of rapid expansion of commercial areas, brothels are always targeted for business expansion. And spaces for brothel areas are shrinking. In Jessore, 2 years ago there were 7 lanes in the brothel area, now it has 6 lanes. One of the lanes at Jhalaipatti brothel area has been occupied by businessmen. For the same purpose, a part of lane at Babubazaar brothel at Jessore has been turned into market. Other areas are also targeted by businessmen there.

A large number of people are involved in side businesses linked to the profession of sex work. To establish supremacy in brothel areas people of different groups sometimes get involved in clashes that sometimes result in eviction of brothel areas. Besides, sex workers are under pressure from religious people and police personnel. Survey reports of an NGO implementing rehabilitation programmes for sex workers show that the number of residents at Jessore brothels decreased from 276 to 220 between 2001 and 2006 because of lack of space in brothel areas.

Pressure from different sources to evict brothel areas has created threats for our normal social life. It is needless to say that unless effective measures are taken to solve other social problems such as poverty, dowry, exploitation, human trafficking etc. it is not possible to stop women to get involved in sex work. If brothels are evicted, number of floating or hotel or residence based sex workers will be increased. If sex work business is considered as a social disease then it is better not to spread the disease all over the country but to keep it in specific places. Therefore, it is necessary to take steps to prevent unplanned eviction of brothel areas. To reduce the threat of eviction through business expansion it is necessary to shift brothel areas from commercial places to places far away from town or city. It is easily seen that brothels which are located at places far away from town or city such as Doulatdia at Rajbari and Baniashanta at Khulna are normally don't become the target of businessmen for eviction.

A number of development organizations (NGOs) have been working with different components of services. Shifting of brothel areas will certainly help the rehabilitation program of different NGOs. These organizations have different service centers such as education/learning centers, vocational training centers, satellite health centers, recreation centers, drop-in centers etc. inside brothel areas which are necessary for human rights promotion and rehabilitation of sex workers. These services are directly or indirectly make contribution in the process of rehabilitation through creation of positive attitude of sex workers to take an alternative livelihood. These services help them to differentiate good and bad things.

Because of services of different NGOs in brothel areas, the sex workers are in fact much more aware about the spread of HIV/STD and other diseases and the risk of spread of the diseases are lower in brothel areas. It is observed that the sex workers are much more aware about health, personal hygiene and social issues than many other people in our society. The eviction of brothel areas destroys all these development initiatives of different NGOs. A project of DSS and UNDP which has partner NGOs working at different brothels around the country for implementation of rehabilitation activities for sex workers experienced that the services of its partners in brothels that are located at commercial areas in cities or towns face more problems than services of those in brothels located at other areas. The NGOs working for inmates of brothels located at commercial places lose beneficiaries because of non-stable behaviour. Drop-out rate of beneficiaries is also high. For the same reason, the project experienced problems working with floating sex workers. In this case NGOs with a close proximity to brothel areas outside city or towns get benefit of establishing service centers inside or outside brothel areas whereas others hardly get chance to hire rooms for establishment of service centers.

The issue of shifting of brothel areas will raise the question of land requisition for people who don't have acceptability to other people of our society. Shifting of brothel areas is not new in Bangladesh. With extension of commercial and residential areas, our existing brothels were shifted several times. The Doulatdia brothel was shifted from Rajbari and Goalondo. Brothel shifting has been a very sensitive issue now. People, even the sex workers don't talk about it because of fear of eviction though they are having tremendous difficulties of accommodation inside brothels. Some brothels have water and sanitation problems which are to be dealt with the building owners but because of fear of eviction the sex workers can't put pressure on them though they have considerably gained awareness on the issues of personal hygiene.

Because of increasing accommodation problem of sex workers in brothel areas and to avoid unplanned eviction, the shifting of brothel areas is necessary and it is no more an issue to keep for future. Government's khas lands can be used to replace the brothels located at densely populated commercial areas. Religious pressure will be a major threat that can be avoided through effective initiatives if taken by the local administration. In fact the main responsibilities will be put down to the local administration. Though this would be a difficult task to accomplish because of its sensitivity, people to be made clear about the result of unplanned eviction and its threat to normal social life would be of some help.

Syed Taposh is Site Coordinator, Jessore & Doulatdia UNDP Assisted Project (BGD 97/029) Department of Social Services (DSS).