Sleepless Nights for Over a Hundred Families in Banisanta

Published : Thursday, 28 August, 2025 at 7:20 PM Count : 15

Severe river erosion, recurring natural disasters, and the effects of global warming have pushed more than a hundred families in Banisanta to the brink of extinction. Despite repeatedly shifting their homes further inland, these families have run out of options. Today, they live precariously on a broken embankment along the Pashur River-surrounded by water on all sides. Their fragile shelters are, quite literally, floating on the river, and a single powerful wave or natural calamity could wipe out the entire community of 350 residents at any moment.

The Banisanta brothel was established around 1954, alongside the opening of Mongla Port. Once recognized as the largest brothel in Bangladesh, it has now shrunk drastically due to continuous disasters and river erosion.

In May 2024, Cyclone Remal destroyed nearly every home in the area. Though aid was limited, the residents- mostly women- managed to rebuild their shelters through loans and debt. But relentless erosion and disasters have left them without peace or security.

Razia Begum Rani, the elected leader of Banisanta, has lived there since 1986. “We have survived disaster after disaster, but now we are at the end of our strength,” she said. “There’s no way out except accepting that one day we may all vanish into the river.”

According to Razia Begum, 115 sex workers currently live in Banisanta. Including men, the elderly, and children, the total population stands at around 350. She said she once worked tirelessly with government ministries to get a river protection project approved, which included block installation along the riverbank. “The project was approved, but later a local MP moved it to his own constituency,” she said. “After that betrayal, our community lost all hope.”

Razia believes that if the area were protected from erosion, many women could leave sex work and rebuild their lives in other professions. “But because of repeated displacement and the need to rebuild, most sex workers are now trapped in loans of 200,000 to 300,000 taka,” she said. “They have no choice but to continue.”

In 2013, a Chinese company constructed an embankment under the Water Development Board’s supervision. But by 2017, erosion began again, and no repair work was undertaken. In June 2018, the embankment collapsed, flooding several villages and trapping over 5,000 residents.

Around 50 children live in Banisanta. Many attend a nearby primary school. Razia said she once applied to the District Commissioner for a school and shelter home for the children. “The ministry approved it, and even a secretary came to inaugurate the project,” she recalled. “But when the local member and MP weren’t invited to the event, the project was canceled.”

An NGO called PSTC (Population Services and Training Center) is currently working in the area to provide healthcare and safety services to the sex workers. Dr. Dolly Sarkar, who leads their health initiatives, said, “We recently conducted HIV testing for all sex workers here- every result was negative. They all use condoms and sanitary napkins regularly.”

Dr. Sarkar added that PSTC runs a small health center inside the community where residents can seek medical care and advice.

Razia Begum acknowledged that past governments and NGOs have provided some level of support. “We are still receiving occasional assistance,” she said. “But our biggest problem remains-the river is swallowing us. Any night, our entire neighborhood could be gone.”

She pleaded for immediate government intervention. “A strong embankment with protective blocks is our only hope,” she said. “It would save our homes, our lives, and perhaps our dignity.”

When contacted, Md. Ashraful Alam, Executive Engineer of the Khulna Water Development Board-2, said he was unaware of the current situation. “I’ll look into it and see what can be done,” he stated.

Caught between natural disasters and social stigma, the women of Banisanta-once part of Bangladesh’s largest brothel-now face a struggle for sheer survival. If urgent action is not taken, the historic Banisanta settlement may soon disappear beneath the waters of the Pashur River-forever.

FP/Raj