Bangladesh’s teenage brothels hold steroid secret
Seventeen-year-old prostitute Hashi leads a customer to her room whilst Maya waits to get a customer at Kandapara brothel in Tangail, a north-eastern city of Bangladesh.—Reuters Photo
Their faces painted heavy with make-up, teenage girls in short, tight blouses and long petticoats loiter in squalid alleys, laughing and gesturing to potential clients who roam Tangail town’s infamous red light area in the early evening.
There is no shortage of men looking for “company” in Kandapara slum, a labyrinth of tiny lanes – lined cheek-by-jowl with corrugated iron shacks – a few hours drive northeast of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka.
But with rates as low as 50 taka the need to attract as many customers as possible is desperate – prompting a rising, yet dangerous, trend of steroid abuse among adolescent sex workers to “enhance” their appearance.
“There is a huge difference between my appearance now and the malnourished look of my childhood,” says Hashi, 17, who was lured into the sex trade by a trafficker when she was 10 and sold to Kandapara’s brothel, where she began taking steroids.
“I am healthier than before and fit to serve a lot of customers in a day. Sometimes up to 15,” she says, placing a large black bindi, or dot used by Hindu women, between her perfectly shaped eyebrows.
She sits in her tiny room with a bed, a cooking stove and posters of Bollywood stars taped across the wall.
Hashi is one of around 900 sex workers – some as young as 12 – living a painful life of exploitation in Kandapara, not only bonded by debt and fear of stigma, but compelled to take the steroid, Oradexon, which brings more income but leaves dangerous side effects.
Cow fattening drug
Also known as Dexamethasone, Oradexon treats inflammation and allergies in humans and is used by farmers to fatten livestock.
Charities say the over-the-counter drug is taken by 90 per cent of sex workers in Kandapara and the other 14 legalized brothels across this impoverished South Asian nation.
The girls are first forced to take it by their madams, or “sardarnis”, who run the brothels.
It increases their appetite, making them gain weight rapidly and giving the appearance that these poorly nourished teens are in fact healthy and older – attracting clients who prefer girls with “curves”.
It also helps sardarnis keep the police away. The legal age for sex work in Bangladesh is 18.
The girls then continue to consume it, saying that it keeps them “strong and healthy”, which in turn will help them get more clients in a day so they can earn enough to survive.
“My sardarni forced me to take a tablet. She beat me up and stopped giving food. She threatened me and reminded me about my loans,” says Hashi, who has a four-year-old son staying with relatives, whom she has not seen for two years.
“In this brothel, customers always look for healthy girls. I take Oradexon. I need customers so I can pay my bills and loans. If I don’t get any customers one day, I cannot eat in the next day. I wish to save some money for my son.”
The story is the same with most of Kandapara’s teenage sex workers, or “chukris”.
Sold for as little as 20,000 taka by their poor, rural families to traffickers, they are then traded on to brothel sardarnis, who are former prostitutes themselves and keep the teenagers in bonded sex work.
The girls speak of being with up to 15 men in one day, but say their earnings are pocketed by their sardarnis, who tell them they have to work to pay off the money paid for them.
Many girls have been in Kandapara’s brothel for years, yet due to their illiteracy, they have no idea whether their debts have been cleared and what their rights are.
Others, who have been left by their sardarnis because they are too old or not-profitable, are in principle free to leave but choose not to, fearful of the social exclusion they will face in the conservative, Muslim society outside of Kandapara.
Battle with brothels
Oradexon, they say, keeps them going, even though there are known risks associated with its long-term use.
The steroid can cause diabetes, high blood pressure, skin rashes and headaches and is highly addictive, according to social activists.
It also weakens the immune system and leaves patients more susceptible to illnesses. There have been reports of young sex workers dying from over-use of the drug.
The small white pill is easily available in Kandapara’s slums. It is sold without prescription for 15 taka for a strip of 10 at the tea and cigarette stalls blaring Bangladeshi pop music that populate a maze of open-sewer lanes.
“Steroids are life-saving as well as life-destroying drugs which are used by sex workers in poor countries,” said Shipra Gowshami, a lawyer and human rights activist who works with sex workers in brothels in the central Bangladeshi town of Faridpur.
“A lack of awareness, easy availability and malpractices of quacks are some of the prime causes of why these drugs are being abused,” Gowshami said.
In 2010, ActionAid Bangladesh began a campaign to promote awareness of the drug among sex workers. But they say they are facing a long fight in persuading not only the brothels to stop using it but also authorities to regulate it.
“There have been attempts to raise awareness on the negative impact of the use of such medicine but brothel owners, madams and pimps are a long way from withdrawing such practices,” said Farah Kabir, country director for ActionAid Bangladesh.
“We have an uphill battle, yet it can be won. There needs to be greater regulation in the sale of such drugs. Government and the state must play an active role.”
Brothers, first of all thanks to writer highlighting such brutal issue in public. I read almost all views/comments and would like to add my comments. This issue has to be taken serious by all including Govt., NGO's, noble people of society and absolutely by religious scholars. This problem can never be solved by an individual effort or institution. But it can be solved by combine efforts. 1- Govt. should provide alternate jobs to them. 2- NGO's must take responsibility in providing shelters plus rehabilitation (adjusting in the society). 3- Religious scholars should take the responsibility to provide them basic education. And lastly our duty/duties (at least) try to highlight these issues and force Govt. and politician to solve the problems instead of watching inappropriate videos on their gadgets in the parliament.
it is the will of the govt combined with law enforcement agencies. social organizations can do little till they are supported by the govt. otherwise all blame goes to the political leaders/govt. and the law enforcement agencies..
I think their government shall take action and stop such activities ,in such a way they are not only harming the society but themselves .These people they create the image of their countries .
I agree with most comments, its a shame on mankind, there has to be demand for the supply so these dirty men are creating this demand, a trap for these poor helpless girls. I can i also just say this is nothing new i'm afraid this sex business has been going on well before Islam. we should all be alert about these issues not because of this one article. tommorw there will be another article / discussion and we will forget about these poor girls. we all can do our bit from today. Is to clean ourselves first ( Men!) and but a lead on your thingy!!!
We need to get rid of all pedofiles in this world, it would solve almost all of the problems the world is facing daily, you would wonder but its plain truth, get rid of all of them and see what happens.
I cannot believe what I have just read. Its not about being Muslim or Non-Muslim…its a humanitarian issue and it exists all over the world, I believe the root cause is poverty in these third world countries. I bet these areas exist in many big cities of Pakistan but as we always like to hide facts no one knows the exact figures or the exact scale of this business here in Pakistan.Its a shame for all the human beings and I agree with Pankaj that laws should be made to protect these young girls.
No Hindu No Muslim, No religion, All are equal, A very cruel business all over the world, Same happening at Atlantic city Bay and many more places.
Who can save them,where is Mr. Ban Ki Moon and rest of the Heads of State. Are we all preparing for Hell instead of Heaven.
I agree more than 100%.
It definately is heart breaking. I will blame the whole Muslim world who cheat on " zakkat " should we offer zakkat properly, effectively and with due deligence ' this would never take place.
So Sad !! !! !!
Please stop this Hindu Muslim finger pointing. These young girls are human beings. This is just one of the many sad situation plaguing our society where we have become almost totally numb to the cruelty and injustice committed against the weak. I commend your feelings Kamaljit Singh and Harry. I would do my best to follow up on this story and I want to help atleast a few trapped girls to get out of that hell. Someone pleaseeeeee take the initiative
Ali Saheb, Could you please ask the Dawn management to start a fund. And contact the author of the story. In first go I will contribute Rs 20000. ( Indian rupees.)
Well said Pakistani,It is not a shame on Muslims alone but on the entire South Asian Men including Hindus of India And Nepal,who create these Hells for our daughters.
I agree there is no religious issue here only exploitation of sex workers. Ironic to note that Tangail was best known for the Cotton Tangail sari that Indian women go crazy about.
OH MY GOD.
What sad fate these poor girls endure! Glad to see this article on Dawn, creating awareness is the first step to solving these problems.
Singh ge. Why only Hashi? Why not all others who are not reported?
The need of the hour is proper planning to alleviate poverty, increase awareness and also for states to take actions against such organized brothels.
Muslims in Pakistan are already working to uproot such brothels, and No such organized brothel can work freely in Pakistan. Here there are laws governing anti-sex policies. Bangladesh Govt and Especially Indian Govt. should place strict laws to stop this booming industry in its territories.
Let us start from one.
Dear It is not which govt is doing what. You and me should be ready to do something . Govts are already doing.Nothing to compare.
What our jehadi are doing to protect these innocent teenage girls? I think they have left it on Allah only
Since she is a hindu girl its time for bangladesh which is an islamic country to curb this menace. Every poor has a right to live but prostitution trade is hallmark of india especially so people in india must see the brothels in mumbai calcuta and other cities
Adnan
This is not a religious issue or India Pakistan issue.It is a humanitarian issue so please see it that way.Prostitution is an oldest business and can not be abolished by law.Muslim countries just push it under carpet and they are more exploited then other countries. What we need is good law to protect them and not try to abolish it by pushing it under carpet.
absolutely correct, i agree.
Adnan, in the same article, it is mentioned, that the girls, when become of no use, still do not leave brothel as they fear Muslim society.Why a Hindu girl will be afraid to be accepted by Muslim society. Also, who told you that the customer shown in the picture is a Hindu or Muslim?
Kamal Parvez asked the question related to the other girls in brothel and may be other customers, who should be dealt with by Zehadis!
Can anybody contact Hashi, I want to pay for her rescue . At least one . Will the Muslims in Pakistan do something for their muslim sister. My heart bleeds.Shame on 'men' if they want to call themselves, who visit these helpless .
yes exactly it's shame on us. muslim 's of pakistan or B'desh or India
It is shame to all religions as there are brothels In India and Europe and are operated on larger scale.
It is not shame on religion. It is shame on those who do not follow religion. None of the religion allows this shame full act.
When the state is ruled by corrupts and people living in the state are selfish, greedy, mean, unethical and only think for them self. Inhumane crimes like these take place
Shame on all men.
I shall also contribute enough to set one soul free of this sinful life, provided i am convinced that i have a credible and professional middle party.
(Jaza ka Allah to one who started it off)
Thanks