Another Daulatdia sex worker gets proper funeral

Another sex worker of a brothel at Rajbari district's Daulatdia village has received a proper funeral, which was a longstanding taboo in Bangladesh.

Rina Begum (55) was laid to rest at a graveyard adjacent to a brothel around 10:30pm on Thursday night, following the last rites.

Imam Abu Bakkar Siddique of Goalanda Police Station mosque conducted Rina's janaza (funeral) in presence of police high-ups of the district, locals and the deceased's co-workers.

Ashiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station, said they took the initiative to give her a proper Islamic funeral -- considering the humanitarian aspect.

From now on, every sex worker will receive last rites, he added.

Jhumur Begum, leader of a local coalition of sex workers, said earlier they could not bury fellow sex workers in broad daylight as villagers used to obstruct the burials.

Expressing relief, she said sex workers are human beings too and deserve proper funeral and burial.

The janaza was attended by Rajbari Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman, Zila Parishad Chairman Fakir Abdul Jabbar, Goalanda Upazila Assistant Commissioner (land) Abdullah Al Mamun, Daulatdia Union Parishad Chairman Md Abdur Rahman, among others.

Earlier, on February 12, Hamida Begum become the first sex worker of the country to receive Islamic funeral and burial in Muslim majority Bangladesh where prostitution is legal but regarded by many as immoral.

However, Imam Golam Mostafa -- who conducted the funeral prayers for Hamida -- later refused to conduct janaza for any other sex worker as he faced harsh criticism from the conservative community.