BANGLA SERIES, DAY 7
DHAKA – DAULATDIA
Brothel Villages of Bangladesh. When thinking of places to visit in Bangladesh, a brothel village was not at the top of the list
IN ALL MY YEARS OF TRAVEL I HAVE NEVER BALLED MY EYES OUT, UNTIL TODAY
But little did I know, I would leave these place with the most profound sense of sadness and guilt.
WHERE IS DAULATDIA?
Daulatdia
The drive out to Daulatdia takes around 3 hours, including a 45min ferry across the huge River Padma, what I considered to be unpolluted until i realised. The river Padma actually comes from the famous Ganges which would be in line with the Buriganga or possibly worse.
DAULATDIA
Even driving into Daulatdia before lunch you can already see the number of women out waiting for customers, which I suppose is not surprising considering the entire village is built on prostitution. Small bars, restaurants and motels line the main railway which brought huge numbers of customers each day, however with the railway no longer in operation, work has dried up.
Brothel Villages of Bangladesh
CHILDREN’S SCHOOL
Sex work results in many children here, and as they grow, many are forced into the same industry at a young age. Our first stop was a children’s school in the town center, providing food, shelter, and education to break the cycle. The system guides kids through school into full-time work, aiming to help them financially support their mothers out of the industry.
Brothel Villages of Bangladesh
CHARITY
Mothers rarely see their children, visiting only briefly. Keeping them away from the village reduces their risk of entering the industry.
However, many children aren’t as lucky and still live with their mothers while they continue working.
Brothel Villages of Bangladesh
RELATED READ: A NAKED SWEDE AND ANGKOR WAT
MEETING SEX WORKERS
After touring the school and meeting incredible children, I met a sex worker with a heartbreaking story. I expected a tough day, but the next few hours overwhelmed me.
FACTS ABOUT PROSTITUTION IN BANGLADESH:
- Legal but Not Really – Prostitution is technically legal in Bangladesh, but sex workers must provide a court affidavit proving they are over 18 and “willing” to work. In reality, many are trafficked, coerced, or start as minors, making the legal framework more of a formality than protection.
- Bangladesh’s ‘City of Brothels’ – Daulatdia, one of the world’s largest brothel villages, has been operating for over a century and houses thousands of sex workers, some starting as young as 12. Many are born into the trade and trapped by generational cycles of debt and abuse.
- The ‘Oradexon Epidemic’ – Many Bangladeshi sex workers are forced to take Oradexon, a steroid meant for cattle, to gain weight and appear healthier for clients. Long-term use leads to severe health issues, but the demand for ‘fuller-looking’ women keeps this dangerous practice alive.
TAKEN TO DAULADTIA
On the day she expected to start work, they took her to Daulatdia, sold her to a madam, and she never saw her family again. Even writing this makes me feel sick. Imagine being 10, ready to help your struggling family, only to spend 20 years trapped in a brothel alone. How would you feel, especially at that age when you need people most? As we left, she told me she was happy to meet me—she has no friends. Leaving her broke my heart.
I kept thinking about her family, waiting for her at dinner, never knowing what happened. How did they cope? How does a child survive alone in a brothel village?
STRENGTH
She spoke openly about her story, treating it as normal life—because for many, it is. I compared it to my privileged upbringing and the heartbreak my family would feel. This is just one of many similar stories.
MARRIAGE
A 70-year-old American befriended her while visiting the village to give supplies, but his real intention was far worse. He used the opportunity to get close to her, and they eventually married to bypass restrictions in Muslim countries. Over the next few months, “Brian Laird” from San Antonio, Texas, traveled Bangladesh with Asha, playing the white savior. He introduced her to luxury—easy for someone trafficked, forced into prostitution, and trapped in abject poverty her entire life.
POSTER
He stayed only a few months before getting bored and returning to America, never intending to commit but using marriage for travel. Even after he left, she still idolizes him, with their picture hanging above her bed. I shared my opinion, but she insists he’s a good guy. She was only 15.
After speaking to Asha, her story finally sank in. I had more questions but had already decided to return next year.
OTHER SEX WORKERS
I visited more women, and their stories only grew harder to hear, each breaking down in tears. One woman lived with her mother and son but used their room for work, forcing them to leave for clients. She was brought here as a child, locked in a room, and fed food mixed with cow steroids. Villages commonly use these steroids on young girls because clients prefer curvier women, making it a risky but quick fix. In all my travels, I have never felt this way.
FINAL THOUGHTS
My drive back to Dhaka was a difficult one, trying to keep it together but unable not to think about the stories and situation many of these women find themselves in. I am only able to write these a week or so after, I just wasn’t able to think about it without breaking down.
I have now left Bangladesh with a new sense of appreciation but also a commitment to help more, especially to those that need it most. I have donated to each of the women I met but also $500 to the children’s NGO. If you would like to donate please donate in the link below.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
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NEXT UP
Who knows but one thing I know is that I need a break!! Click to read.
This post is part of the Bangla Series, for the entire series click here or for episode 1, click here.
To see a different side of my trip head to my social channels; YouTube, Instagram & TikTok. Links at top of the page.
Question Time
- Are you surprised that this kind of thing happens in Bangladesh?
- How do you feel after hearing some of these stories?
Let me know in the comments below . . .
