Hopeless, in the biggest brothel in the world

The small town of Daulatdia is located in the Rajbari district of Bangladesh, around 100 kilometres from the capital Dhaka.
The South Asian state of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal, to the east of India, is predominantly Muslim. Almost 90 per cent of the nearly 165 million inhabitants are Muslims. The country, which is predominantly influenced by Islamism and is still considered to be very poor, is one of the few that tolerates prostitution.

The small town of Daulatdia, comparable to an area the size of 44 football pitches, is considered the world's largest brothel. 1500 to 2000 girls and women between the ages of 10 and 40 offer their services in the red-light suburb of Daulatdia. Kidnapped by human traffickers, sold to their own families or born here involuntarily, they are forced to sell their bodies day and night. Those who do not comply are subjected to torture and abuse. Around 3500 men come to the small village every day to have fun. The price range for sex is between 65 centimes and 10 francs. The price increases without a condom. According to reports, sex without is possible for as little as 2 francs. It is mostly the very young prostitutes who are in demand. Older women, on the other hand, have a hard time, especially if they don't have enough curves.

Oradexone, a steroid used in livestock farming for fattening cattle, helps many women to appear curvier and more attractive to clients. Irreparable health damage such as liver failure and addiction are the consequences. They are knowingly accepted. Nobody here records figures on sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS. No statistics are kept on the low life expectancy of women either. Without rights and in debt to unscrupulous human traffickers, they have to hand over all their earnings. Apart from food, drink and a place to sleep, they are left with nothing. Aid organisations estimate that the women can only earn their own money after around 5 years. However, very few of them dare and succeed in leaving prostitution. Ostracised by society and labelled as "ex-whores", it is almost impossible to return to a normal life.

Many have become pregnant as prostitutes and are unable to support their families as single parents. As a result, daughters who are far too young often end up in the vicious circle and have to start serving clients at an early age and put up with everything. Thanks to the efforts of aid organisations, the girls can go to a specially created school. They are isolated from normal schoolchildren and would not be tolerated by them. The youngest girls have to prostitute themselves from the age of 10 and give themselves to up to 20 clients a day. There is hardly any time left for a solid education. Sadly, the few who make it out of prostitution or are simply too old to attract clients often become pimps themselves. They call themselves "Madame", buy young girls and women who have to work for them until they too have paid off their debts. Boys who grow up like this all too often become human traffickers themselves. Both sexes have not known any other way and only know this way of earning money. A vicious circle!