Ranak Martin D. Cruze (Bangladesh)

  My father wanted me to be a teacher when I grow up - Pia, 14, Kandapara, Tangail. Kandapara is the largest brothel in Bangladesh. About 850 prostitutes live here, among which 50% are under aged. Most of these young girls were abducted and sold here for 40,000 to 50,000 Taka. They are so young that they do not know anything about sex. They are thrown to the customers like rickshaw-puller, driver, policeman or businessman. Such cruelty cannot be tolerated by some of them and from which they seek freedom through committing suicide. At some point the girls start to think the owner as their guardian. The owner produces forged papers in the court and gains permission for prostitution for them. In the process, administration is also bribed 15,000 Taka. The girls are given growth hormone pills ostensibly vitamins, which make them look chubby and older to attract customers. Sometimes these inexperienced girls get pregnant only to abort the unexpected child. Drugs, unprotected sex and sexual abuses make their life miserable.