High Court asks why Kandaparha brothel in Tangail not being closed down

The High Court has issued a rule asking the authorities why they will not close down the Kandaparha brothel in Tangail and rehabilitate its sex workers.

The bench of Justice Md Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan issued the rule on Monday after hearing a writ petition by Tangail Girls’ High School governing body Chairman Md Amir Qudrat-E-Elahi Khan.

Lawyer Borhan Khan stood for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Motahar Hossain Saju represented the State at the hearing.

Saju told reporters that the secretaries to the cabinet, law, home, and social welfare, and Tangail deputy commissioner have been asked to respond to the rule in four weeks.

Borhan Khan said establishing and running a brothel is a punishable offence under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act.

He said the locals formed a committee and dismantled the brothel in 2014.

“But this is illegal too. If the closure takes place following court order, it won’t be violation of law,” he added.

After the closure in 2014, the brothel was re-established following the High Court’s order to ensure security of the sex workers.    

The lawyer said there were several educational institutions around the brothel.

“The brothel is negatively impacting the juvenile students. That’s why we’ve sought High Court directive to close it and rehabilitate the sex workers,” he added.