Seven decades old Banishanta brothel faces threat of river erosion

The historic Banishanta brothel in Dacope upazila of Khulna is facing an existential threat due to the strong current and regular erosion of the Pashur River. Established in 1954 after the establishment of Mongla Port, the nearly seven-decade old government registered brothel is now on the verge of being washed away into the river.

Meanwhile, many houses and roads have already been washed away by river erosion. Cracks have also appeared in many of the remaining houses. As a result, the residents of the brothel are living in fear.

During a visit to the area, it was seen that the boundary of the brothel is shrinking day by day due to the continuous erosion of the Pashur River. Several houses along the riverbank have been washed away in several phases. Many people have become helpless after losing their homesteads. Hundreds of women once lived in the brothel. However, due to erosion and relocation, the number of residents has now fallen to 130.

Local residents and representatives of organizations said that besides losing their homesteads to river erosion, the women of the brothel are also losing their only means of livelihood. As the area is surrounded by saline water, they have to bring water from distant places by boat for drinking and other uses. With no long-term rehabilitation plan in place, they are spending their days in uncertainty.

Banishanta brothel acting president Lovely Begum said, “Due to river erosion, we have been moving our houses farther back and now there is no place left to move. When a house collapses into the river, we have to move a little farther back and build another house. We are worried about how long it will be possible to survive this way.”

She further said, “During natural disasters, storms come directly from the river and hit the houses. As there is saline water all around, we have to buy water and bring it from distant places for drinking. It seems there is no one to see our suffering.”

Dacope Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Borhan Uddin Mithu said he has seen the humanitarian crisis faced by the residents of the brothel and the deplorable situation caused by river erosion firsthand. Necessary measures will be taken quickly to prevent river erosion in coordination with the Water Development Board.

Executive Engineer of Division 2 of the Khulna Water Development Board (BWDB) Md. Rashidur Rahman said he recently joined here. The site will be inspected firsthand very soon and necessary measures will be taken.