Worldwide Gay Life,
Sites and Insights Gay Bangladesh News & Reports Also see: Gay
Islam Reports 1998-2002 The oldest, biggest and the most active internet based mailing list of Bangladeshi gays called Boys Only Bangladesh (BOB). Since the group cannot be found out by searching, advertising is the only way it can reach people across the world. And India being our biggest LGBTneighbour, it is believed that we have a lot of common friends. GayBombay surely is an effective way to reach out to others. Moreover, it is also said that there's no active community in Bangladeshand the gay scenario is totally void. BOB is there to prove it wrong.The group has been there since 2001 working both online and offline to bring the Bangladeshi gays together under one roof. Just like GB, BOB also arranges parties, gatherings, film shows and such activities from time to time. With more than 1400 members which is increasing each day, BOB is looking forward to work as the forerunner in the LGBT sector of Bangladesh. GB's help and guidence in this regard is highly welcome. It'd also be great if GB friends can list BOB in their website under the International Forums section. The site link: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/boysonlybangladesh Shipbreaking Yards 1 Sexual health workshops in Bangladesh and India for males who have sex with males 4/96 2 Bangladesh: Revealing an Underworld Network: Male prostitution in Ramna Park 11/96 3 Varieties of homosexuality in Bangladesh: implications for HIV prevention 6/98 4 Dhaka forced to face sex taboo 9/99 5 Alternative Lifestyles getting increasing popular in Bangladesh 2002 6 Why gay men flee Bangladesh 4/03 7 Bangladesh: Rape fuel Bangladesh and India AIDs Crisis 8/03 8 Bangladesh's gay prostitutes take a tiny step out of the closet 10/03 9 AIDS/HIV situation in Bangladesh: A Looming Threat 9/03
10 Gay asylum bid by Bangladeshi Gays in Australia clears first
hurdle 12/03 12 Hizras bear the brunt of prejudice in conservative Bangladesh 6/05 13 Gay Bangla: The Shadow Citizens 1/06 14 Nobel Peace Prize 2006 to Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh 10/06 (non-gay background story) 15 Transsexual host breaks TV taboo 11/07
April 1996 1 In October, November and December, 1996, a series of workshops were conducted by The Naz Foundation for males who have sex with males in Dhaka, Calcutta, Chennai (Madras), and New Delhi. Whilst each group expressed differing socio-cultural-economic dynamics, expressing differing identities, sensibilities, class, and needs, there was a high degree of concurrence on major issues. This report highlights certain issues of major concern that arose from these workshops a other work being done by The Naz Foundation elsewhere in India and Bangladesh. From such work we have found very high levels of male to male sex (and not necessarily males who identify as gay/homosexuallbisexual) but also high levels of anal sex between males and between males and females. And because very little effort has been made by government or non-government agencies addressing the issues of male to male sex and anal sex between males and females, the presumption being made that anal sex is only a "homosexual" issue and that "heterosexuals" apparently only practice vaginal sex, The Naz Foundation has been challenging these assumptions to ensure that all sexually active people have the right to access appropriate information, sexual health products and sexual health services appropriate to their needs, behavioural practices and socio-cultural constructions of identity and community. If there
is to be any successful effort towards empowering males who have
sex with males toward health seeking behaviours then there
needs to
be major efforts to: To ensure that the possible socio-economic impact of AIDS at the personal, familial, community and national level is reduced then the following issues need to be urgently explored. 1. Sexual
Behaviour research No-one really knows what is happening in terms of sexual behaviours and their sociocultural constructions. Sexual behaviour is not the isolated phenomenon of the individual but lies within a context of culture, social and economic conditions. "...... it would have to focus not only on the incidence of particular attitudes and practices, but on the social and cultural contexts in which sexual activity is shaped and constituted. Research attention would have to be drawn not merely to the calculation of behavioural frequencies, but to the relations of power and social inequality within which behaviour takes place and to the cultural systems in which it becomes meaningful. "In relationship to HIV/AIDS, as in relation to gender, inequality and sexual oppression, an understanding of sexuality and sexual activity as socially constructed has thus refocused attention on the inter-subjective nature of sexual meanings – their shared, collective quality, not as the property of atomised individuals, but of social persons integrated within the context of distinct and diverse sexual cultures. This emphasis,
on the social organisations of sexual interactions, on the contexts
within which sexual practices occur, and on the complex relations
between meaning and power in the constitution of sexual experience,
has thus increasingly shifted
attention from sexual behaviour, in and of itself, to the cultural
rules which organise it. Special emphasis has been given to analysing
the local or indigenous
categories and systems of classification that structure and
define sexual experience in different social and cultural contexts. (Conceiving Sexuality – approaches to sex research in a post-modern world—page 11, edited by Richard Parker and John Gagnon, 1995, Routledge) Very little of such research has been done in India often leading to ill-thought out strategies for HIV prevention, and an almost invisibility of the issue of anal sex as a sexual practice between males as well as between males and females. What may be recognised are the terms, homosexual, gay, men who have sex with men, male commercial sex workers, and so on, where very often these terms carry no significance or meaning amongst males who have sex with males amongst the indigenous population. Preliminary
research conducted by The Naz Foundation amongst males who have sex
with males
have found a range of issues that are not easily visible
or even acceptable for socio cultural reasons. These include amongst
others This research is limited by time and available funds, but already it can be clearly seen that what currently exists as HIV prevention strategies amongst males who have sex with males are very limited. We have only identified an extremely few intervention strategies. These
are: a. Humsafar Trust in Mumbai (Bombay) For a variety of reasons, primarily identity constructions, but also incuding financial, none of these look at male to male sexual behaviours in its broadest frameworks. At the same time, we have not been able to clearly identify any agency that looks at anal sex between males and females and is developing appropriate STD/HIV prevention strategies taking this on board. In conducting
such research though, several significant questions must
be asked:
Recommendation 2.
Sexual Behaviours and Identities Even in
their context, marriage becomes a primary
focus of identity. Some of those under thirty may well identify
with this terminology, but after this age, marriage as a family
commitment becomes the primary identity.
There may well be those who carry both identities and situate
them within specific social contexts, i.e. a "park"/social network identity and a home/business
identity. For the those from the lower-middle/lower income/labour classes,
different, more gendered, frameworks exist. However, whilst this is what is usually stated, private one-on-one discussions indicate that some kothis do have sex with each other and do anally penetrate as well. There are also hijras, a socially constructed group of males who have a historical socio-religious sanction in specific contexts, who dress as women, feminise their behaviours in exaggerated forms, and live upon earnings gained through performing certain rituals at marriage and birth occasions, through aggressive begging and through prostitution (oral and anal sex) in urban settings. Many of these males are also ritualistically fully castrated as a religious sacrifice, and they will speak of believing that they are females in a male body. Yet listening to their stories, many speak of an early involvement in anal penetration in their villages, and since this is seen as a female activity, feminise themselves as part of their socialisation. Those hijras that are not castrated, state that they never have sex with each other, nor do they penetrate, but again through one-on-one discussions in a beshararam (shameless) environment, some have revealed the opposite. At the same time, those males who sexually penetrate (and never are penetrated, so it is believed) are called panthis/giriyas, "masculine", males who are "real men". And "real men" never touch their male sexual partner’s genitalia. Yet, again, some of these "real men", in private situations, have also revealed that at times they enjoy being sexually penetrated and have asked for this. In such occasions they will select a "double-decker" as a sexual partner. However, their public "park" identity is secured through only being seen to be going with kothis. Then there are the jiggery dosts, close malele friends of approximately equal age, who may also have sex with each other, sometimes involving mutual penetration. Or double deckers, those whose sexual acts include both penetrator and penetrated, and whose sense of sexual desire may the closest to what would be understood by the term "gay". There are of course a significant number of males who have sex with other males who do not have any of these identities. Two males sharing a bed in a shared room, finding themselves sexually "hot" who will then go onto having sex, where, as one stated "I dreamt I was having sex", or another " a ‘jinn’ made me do it". Males living away from their wives, young males not married. Truckdrivers, tea shop "boys", restaurant "boys", taxi drivers, rickshaw drivers, business men, hotel-"boys", students living in hostels, military personnel, well the lists can go on. Recommendations 3.
Empowering Behaviour Changes Little work appears to have been done as to what effective strategy or strategies would work amongst the differing sexual networks amongst males who have sex with males. What might work amongst one group or class may not work in another. What might work for self-identified gay men may not work for those involved in jiggery dost or discharge sex. What has clearly been shown by the range of workshops, is that any strategy that may be developed needs to be underpinned within frameworks of community development, social networks, peer pressure, personal empowerment, and familial frameworks. It should be remembered that in South Asian cultures, individuality, and thus a sense of the personal self separated from its social surroundings is weak. Rather, identity is given shape by the family and marriage which play a more central role in a person’s life. Empowering behaviour change requires intervention strategies to contextualise such work within these multi-levelled dynamics to make any sense and to be effective. Beyond the actual structures and models of intervention, access to appropriate sexual health products becomes essential. How can one tell an individual to practice safer sex when identity is configured around anal penetration, where the environment is not conducive to safer sex behaviours, where poverty can be one of the dynamics that socially constructs sexual behaviours, and where access to appropriate condoms and lubricants is not possible? At the same time, sexual health services need to be sensitised to the needs of males who have sex with males. If a clinician does not have the knowledge around anal sex issues, or is too ashamed to discuss these issues, or finds them offensive to deal with, how can such a service deliver an appropriate framework which can be accessed by males who have sex with males? This is the challenge for South Asian agencies developing sexual health work amongst males who have sex with males. Recommendations 4. Sexual
Health Education These
include: Recommendation 5.
Sexual Health Products Several
points need to be made Can anal sex between males and females be defined as a heterosexual practice? As a result, sexual health services often ignores the possibility of STD/HIV transmission resulting from such a sexual practice both for males and females. Even where a clinician may consider the possibility it usually is in the circumstances of addressing the needs of a kothi or hijra. In these circumstances, with these identities being heavily stigmatised results in individuals with these identities often being intimated and/or abused if or when accessing such services. As has been constantly stated in other Naz documents, shame is a significant controlling factor with regard to people’s lives and access of services. There appears to be very little education of clinicians and medical staff regarding anal sex and any resultant infections through anal sex, nor the socio cultural constructions of this practice. There are few appropriate sexual health services addressing these concerns. Rather it is assumed that any patient, male or female, attending such a clinic, comes through the result of infections through vaginal sex. Anal swabs are not often a part of the investigation. Recommendations 2. Such training should also include the sensitising of staff regarding the needs of individuals and families in regard to possible infections through anal sex, and that the quality of service delivery regarding this issue should be regularly investigated to ensure that all individuals can access sympathetic and high quality services. 7.
Legal Issues The second issue, and related to the first, is the high level of reported harassment and violence directed towards males who have sex with males both by police and members of the general public. Very often there will be a demand for sex and/or money. Reporting of these incidents is obviated by Section 377, and further compounded by the unsympathetic and sometimes violent attitudes of the police. For effective sexual health promotion amongst males who have sex with males, both these connected issues must be appropriately and adequately addressed. Recommendations
November 15, 1996 2 This information was first acquired from two researchers, Dr. Shumon Lahari (a medical doctor) and Mr. M.A. Faraz (an NGO worker), who are currently exploring the area of male sexual behaviour in Bangladesh. Lahari and Faraz have been involved in a "need assessment study" since April 1996, on male sexual behaviour, particularly of homosexuality as a hidden yet existing life-style. [It is important to note here that not all homosexual men are working as or visiting prostitutes for sexual, gratification. Since the Star’s story is on Ramna, it took a special interest in a particular group of men who operate as sex-workers in Ramna Park only. It is not our intention to stigmatize homosexuals into professions such as prostitution]. Faraaz
and Lahari claimed that unlike female sex-workers, men do
not work from organized brothels, but are usually
saturated in parks such as Ramna. Perhaps the Park offers them
a certain sense of security since female prostitution is already
a
common practice.
Police harassment is also limited in public parks compared
to organized brothels. They are also concerned about the slowly but steadily growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Bangladesh and want to promote safe-sex among men. Lahari and .Faraaz claim that society at large is living in denial about homosexuals and it is extremely detrimental to individuals to have to suppress their true identity in fear of being labelled "socially deviant" The
invisibility of gay men is
further perpetuated by such laws like the Penal Code 377
which states "Any
sexual intercourse against the order of nature is punishable by law." When
asked how they would deal with the legal ramifications of such a law,
Faraaz replied "This law is quite vague in its language because
it does not define what ‘against the order of nature actually
means." Faraaz and Lahari are currently working with
a group of 50 researchers to publish a comprehensive
report on male sexual
behaviour
in Bangladesh which will be complete and available in January
1997. The activists
also expressed their dissatisfaction
with the media, which is so conservative that they totally
deny and ignore the existence of gays in society. media
needs to have a more
positive attitude towards homosexuality if society at
large is to be informed and educated about gay rights. Lahari and
Fraaz pointed
out
that gay rights are human rights and organizations working
on human rights in Bangladesh should take a keen interest
to support the welfare
of individual people in society regardless of their sexual
preference and orientation.
June
28-July 3, 1998 International
Conference on AIDS 1998 Jun 28-Jul 3; 12:244-5 (abstract no. 155/14312)__Jenkins
C_Int'l. Cent. Diar. Dis. Res. B., Dhaka, Bangladesh. OBJECTIVES: The national AIDS policy of Bangladesh has recognised the existence
of male to male sex and the likelihood of high risk behaviour.
The policy calls for much needed research in this domain. In order
to address
this need, a study was carried out to explore the varieties and
contexts of same sex experiences among males and the life courses
of these men. In some
cases, younger boys are raped by groups of older
boys. Gender roles vary widely and different life courses range
from having no further male to male sex to becoming a professional
sex worker.
Some move toward transexual lifestyles, while others become bisexually
active. Sex with boys is seen as a safe substitute for sex with
dangerous female sex workers. Most men claim they do not use
condoms or water-based
lubricants. Nearly all of those interviewed were married, or
claim they will marry. Of greatest importance was the necessity to
keep
their lives hidden from family members.
by
Arsha Mahmud in Dhaka The subject has been strictly taboo in this predominantly Muslim society. So when the daily Manavzamin reported about a police clampdown on homosexuals in Dhaka, many readers seem to have been jolted by the revelation of their existence. The reaction of many, even among the educated, was that homosexuality in Bangladesh was an absurd suggestion and that gays plying their trade in public was preposterous. When police arrested 15 boys and men two weeks ago, they did not use the word "homosexual", instead describing them as "perverts" on their charge sheets. The action, police said, was aimed at curbing "a growing menace". It is not difficult to find male "sex workers" in the city. Each evening they can be seen loitering at busy intersections and parks that are well-known pick-up points. But the clampdown caused another headache for police because there is no law on the statute books to specifically deal with the problem. So a Dhaka magistrate charged the "perverts" with causing a "public nuisance" and fined them 500 takas (HK$79) each. All were released and, as expected, are back in business. However, that is not the end of the story. What has caused consternation among various professional groups and social scientists is the arrest of a worker from a non-government organisation. He was accused of pandering to the "business". The Bandhu Social Welfare Society is reported to have been supplying condoms and providing advice on safe sex to homosexuals. "This is an issue which exists in every society and we must not pretend that it doesn't exist here. No amount of intimidation or arrests is going to solve the problem," said Dr Halida Hanum Khandker, president of Confidential Approach to Aids Prevention. "We cannot turn a blind eye to the problem, rather we should all try to tackle it in a practical way," said Mushtaque Ali, executive director of Incidence, a group that provides medical assistance to male sex workers. Incidence began its work three years ago after conducting a study that revealed young boys, mostly poor and homeless, were being increasingly used as sex workers. Among male sex workers in Dhaka, two brothers named Kalam and Lalu are perhaps the best known. Aged 26 and 24 respectively, both are dumb. An elder brother tried beating them to stop their "horrible acts", but now others in the family accept the situation. A nephew said: "Every morning my uncles come home with their pockets bulging with money. For poor people like us, money is crucial." nearby, converge at the site. Rabiul and the smartly dressed young man move on to make further contracts.
Early 2002 5 [Author’s note: This piece was written in early 2002 for the two lovebirds I came to be friends with in Boston. An attempt to spur some laughter in their lives by being outrageously funny (lamely though). Not recommended reading for those who think they are very funny. Written in January, 2002.] Faisal Hossain reports from desk, The Daily Star, Dhaka. An alarming prevalence of homosexuality among young people of Bangladesh has been observed by noted social scientists of Dhaka University. Compared to the last survey conducted five years ago in the same area, girls and guys alike have been found to be more open and favorable to the concepts of distorted sexual orientations. Notes a somber Dr. Safiul Azam, Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology and Principal Investigator (P.I) of the USAID funded project “Investigations of the Arsenic Calamity on Rural Psychology”, “Certainly we have a much higher percentage of gays and lesbians in our society than we had five years ago. Our study in the area of Chittagong has shown a clear increase of 7.9% a year over the period (adjusted for the birth rate) and we have reasons to believe that the whole nation have experienced a similar rise with the national mean expected to be around 3.5%". Upon asked how the P.I. thought the alarming increase could be related to the Arsenic calamity in drinking water, he said, “Our discovery was purely accidental. We intended primarily to study how the Intelligent Quotient (I.Q) could be getting affected by the presence of poisonous Arsenic in the drinking water. “We were motivated to conduct our investigations based on a recent study by a British medical team at the Imperial College of Science Medicine and Technology that has appeared on Nature, June, 2001. They have reported Arsenic to have a neutralizing effect on the neurophilic effects of Iodine in African mice Rodenta Negria. With a steady injection of arsenic in their blood stream over a week, 94% of them invariably lost the ability to distinguish between cheese on mousetraps and those on plain white paper. “Hence, we had strong reasons to believe that any decrease in our national I.Q average could be correlated to the concentration of Arsenic in groundwater”, adding further that, “when people were given our psychological questionnaires, many of them were answering in a pattern that reflected strong and disturbing signs of homosexuality that Sigmund Freud first identified in this treatise on Human Psychology.” Certainly there seems to be some element of truth in Dr. Azam’s observation. He currently leads a team of 3 Dhaka University Researchers from the Sociology and Psychology Labs and 12 under-paid M.Sc level graduate students who are spending a large part of their life offending people further by asking about their personal preferences. There also seems to be more university students of the like sex engaged in behavior that would definitely be labeled as ‘suspicious’ in homophobic schools of the United States. For example, based on my own personal experience, I now have witnessed more university male students at Rajshahi holding hands of their male ‘buddies’ and some even like to appear pressed hard on the male posterior. Shafqat Ali, a five feet 3rd year student in History at Rajshahi University said, “I think the internet and cable TV are the causes behind such an alarming increase. Girls these days are watching Hrithik Roshan, Fardeen Khan type movies and chatting on the internet with fake, inflated Casanova-type e-personalities in newsgroups and chatrooms. Naturally, that makes them want us guys to be all 6 feet tall, good dancers, guitarists, sweet talkers and brainless gym-goers and their expectations are just way too high for the average diminutive Bangladeshi university student. “Many of my batch mates have reluctantly resorted to this ‘alternative’ life style with similarly frustrated male friends because of their hard luck in getting a decent date in their Freshman year”, lamented the short and stodgy Senior student in History. But Shafqat is confident of preserving his manhood. “I know some girl will fall in love with me oneday for who I really am before I need to take viagra pills.” When I asked Dr. Azam on what appeared to be playing the more deleterious role on the distorted psychology of our youth - the media and Bollywood entertainment industry or the Arsenic calamity, he was unsure himself, “It’s difficult to say and we can only speculate. At this stage any hypothesis is equally likely, but certainly Media and Bollywood have more merit. My own 10 year old boy, a 5th grader at Scholastica, shocked his mother recently by declaring that one of his dreams was to spend a whole day chatting with Abishek Bacchan by the lakeside in Nainitaal, U.P, India.” (c) Copyright Faisal Hossain, 2002. April 16, 2003 6
25 August 2003 7
8 9 Recently, a report on the AIDS cases came out in the daily newspaper According to that report, more than 13 thousand people are carrying HIV in Bangladesh and the experts have classified the AIDS situation as concentrated epidemic. Ironically, the government was downplaying the actual AIDS cases, just informing only 282 and taking credit from the international community! But in reality, the actual figure would be far higher than the reported one. Due to stigma and fear of discrimination HIV infected people are so scared to come forward with their diseases and ask for treatment and health care. It can make people hide their HIV status amidst fear of rejection from loved one. HIV testing is another area where discrimination is evident. Voluntary HIV tests and counseling is often limited, not well known, inaccessible or only in urban areas. People may also be deterred from getting tested because of laws that restrict an individual’s confidentiality. So it is impossible to get the exact HIV status in Bangladesh. AIDS posing a challenge to the mankind already claimed the lives of more than 23 million, killing more than 3 million people every year. According to WHO report 2002, an estimated 42 million people throughout the globe currently is living with HIV. Another 70 million men, women and children may die of AIDS in the next 20 years and 25 million children will be orphans by 2010._ African human civilization is threatened to extinction due to HIV. 28.5 million people are HIV positive, in which about 30% of the total adult population having this deadly virus and 7000 people is dying every day (BBC report). In South Africa one in nine people are infected with HIV. In Botswana and Namibia about 40% of the total population is fighting with AIDS. In the Bahamas 60% of deaths among children under the age of five are from AIDS and in Zimbabwe the corresponding figure is 70%. AIDS is shaking the very foundations of the African progress. East African universities has reported that an average of 2 to 3 deaths occurs per month among the faculty members while university of Nairobi reported an average death rate of 2 staff members per week. In Botswana, 35-45% of all teachers are infected. HIV also infects the African economy. A study of African countries suggests that for countries with HIV/AIDS prevelance levels above 20%, GDP is estimated to be 2.6 percentage less per year. Recently it has been reported that last six months 220,000 people died due to AIDS in China. (Channel NewsAisa, October 4, 2003)_ Dr. Robert Gallo first discovered HIV, the causative agent of AIDS in 1984. Nobody knows the origin of HIV. Scientists believe that it might have come from African green money or laboratory accident. The earliest known case of HIV was from a blood sample collected in 1959 from a man in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. How he became infected is unknown. HIV destroys the body’s defense systems so that they can no longer defend the body against infections and other disorders. AIDS patients are severely suffered from at least 29 opportunistic infections, which are rarely seen in healthy people. The life expectancy after acquiring the disease is only up to five years. _ There are some myths associated with the transmission of the disease. The HIV infection is not acquired (or transmitted) via mosquitoes, food, water, toilet seats, swimming pools, sweat, tears, clothing and a handshake. HIV is mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal and oral) or through contact with infected blood, semen, or cervical and vaginal fluids. This is the most frequent mode of transmission of HIV worldwide. Blood transfusion or transfusion of blood products (e.g. obtained from donor blood infected by HIV) injecting equipment such as needles or syringes, or skin-piercing equipment and mother to child are also the route of transmission. Homosexual activity is one of the most talked about issue for the rapid transmission of AIDS because anal sex (practiced by Guys) can cause the rectal bleeding and thereby allow easy transmission of HIV. At the beginning of the epidemic most AIDS/HIV cases were limited to homosexual people. _ The curatives for HIV are still elusive. Scientists are working hard around the clock to devise an effective vaccine against HIV. But the fact remains, however, that virus is so smart, disguising the body’s defense systems by rapidly mutating its genetic material, which foils the vaccine developmental efforts. Currently some antiviral drugs have been marketed which are highly costly and toxic for the body but can not cure the AIDS at all, just lengthen the life expectancy of the patients. For instance, the cost of one treatment of AZT alone is around $8000 per year, which is not affordable to general people. _ Why is the HIV situation so alarming in Bangladesh? _ We are used to feel proud that we have conservative society where moral climate is better than that of other western countries. But the real scenario is quite terrible, unbelievable. Everything what we call “obscene activities” are going under curtain. Moral values especially among the young generations are aggravating very fast. Although there are only 14 well-established prostitutions (two of which were evicted from Narayangaon) all the residential hotels (ranging from high to low class) in major cities are thriving on sex business. All river ports, seaports are well known for sex affairs. Just after evening all the parks in the Dhaka city are considered to be sex venues for low class people. Important studies of the sex industry identified large numbers (1,70,000 including 8,000 to 10,000 hijra) of generally non-literate sex workers (SWs) whose customers represent all segments of society. Female SWs have an average of 2-5 clients a day, making the number of clients about half a million men a day. In addition, ‘floating prostitutes’ are present in large number but the precise distribution and prevalence are unknown. It is suspected that large numbers of young and mostly single female textile and garment workers may also supplement their low wages by occasional prostitution. _ Sex outside marriage might be more widespread than traditionally acknowledged. Documented sexual practices include premarital, extramarital and male-to-male sex particularly among youth. For example, some studies indicated a high percentage of (around 50%) youths to have experience of sex before marriage and occurrences of induced abortions among women. 60% of long distance truck drivers have sex with commercial sex workers about twice a month without any knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Extra-marital sex appears to exist in rural societies and in particular where husbands are absent for long periods. _ Police: Sad to say that our law enforcers (police) are very corrupted and morally degraded. It would be wise to include them under high-risk groups for HIV spreading. In Africa, police and armies are badly affected by AIDS. The ministries of defenses of several African countries have provided the UN with values of 20-40% infection rates among the African soldiers, police. In some countries numbers as high as 60% were reported. In our country sex workers are used to allege “they (police) abuse us at night, treat us inhumanely and do not pay money for sexes with them. Threats from HIV/AIDS are not big problems for us. The police violation is the prime concern for us” _ Barber shops: in our country it’s a very common practice to use same blade or special type of knife (Khur) repeatedly without sterilization. This practice is also common in our neighboring countries. Even WHO experts are focusing very little on this issue. But this would be one of the major factors, which may increase the risk of spreading of HIV infection where the HIV epidemic is looming at large. _ Looks unfamiliar but in reality, homosexual activities are widespread in our conservative society. It has been reported that, Bangladeshis are very active on global gay scene. But those still in the closet oscillate between confusion, guilt and fear. Since some gay activists in Bangladesh are highly educated, once in while, foreign education is being cited as reason for being gay. A gay Australian Professor Garry Dowsett, who wrote a research a paper, Men Who Have Sex With Men In Bangladesh, as part of an HIV-related research project, describes a complex pattern of sexual activity – teenage male prostitution in Dhaka parks, a custom of sex between male cousins and brothers-in-law, a tradition of transvestism. According to Dr Safiul Azam, associate professor of Sociology at Dhaka University, homosexuality is increasing at the rate of 3.5% a year. Demonstration of homosexual tendencies for short periods is quite common in our society. Those practicing are not ostracized, although if caught, are ridiculed. Like in other societies gay relation flourish in dormitories, barracks, labor colonies, prisons (very common) and hostels, and authorities are hard pressed to keep them secret. Male prostitutes are available in most towns. In rural areas, homosexuality is generally considered something that young people do for fun and some elders may do in secret. But almost no discussion can take place on the subject, even with the threat of HIV/AIDS looming over Bangladesh and gays being identified as one of the most vulnerable groups_ Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major factor in the spread of HIV infection and serve as indicators of low condom use and other high-risk sexual behaviors. Studies have shown high rates of STDs in various populations. In 1989, syphilis rates of 56% and 39% were found among floating and institutional SWs respectively. In 1997, 54% of 980 SWs gave a history of present or past symptomatic STDs. Recent reports indicate high levels of STDs amongst various other groups. Condoms are not generally the preferred method of contraception. According to a survey conducted by Governmental organizations, about 98% of the floating prostitutes don’t use condom while 96% of the hotel sex workers. Two third of the rickshaw pullers and truck divers never use condom. Furthermore, knowledge of condoms as a means to prevent STDs is very low. Approximately 200,000 required units of blood is currently largely (70-75%) provided by professional blood donors of whom approximately 20% are positive for hepatitis B and/or syphilis. Available data from Client Monitoring System of Department of Narcotics Control and other research reports shows that prevalence of injecting drug use (IDU) is on the rise. Most injecting drug users (IDUs) in Bangladesh share needles. In some areas the professional injectors use one needle for many IDUs. There are estimated 25,000 IDUs mainly in Dhaka, Rajshahi, and other towns including border areas. Prevalence of STDs is quite high among drug users in general. It’s a matter of great concern that our neighbouring countries- India, Barma and Nepal are considered to be the epicenter of HIV epidemic in this region. Currently, about 4 million people in India are having HIV.The epidemic of HIV/AIDS in India is following the same pattern as that of sub-Saharan Africa in the 1980s and it could become just a devastating unless preventive action is taken now. A report from CIA’s National intelligence Council projects that the number of people infected with HIV in India will jump to 20-25 million by 2010. The Bangladesh economy relies on more than 1.5 million migrant workers mostly from neighboring countries, including truck drivers, businessmen and laborers.These migrants, who spend much of the year away from their families, are known to be at increased risk of contracting HIV_ Reasons behind the degradation of moral climate _ Religion and the family have immense impact on the nation’s moral, but their influence is declining. Education should have positive effects on morals, but it is failing to fulfill that responsibility. We are the second largest Muslim nation in the world. But what proportion of the Muslim population is practicing Islam? Frankly speaking we are Muslim by name. Only a very few portion of the population is practicing the religion. Islam including all the regions condemns all sorts of illegal sexual behaviors and emphasizes on the moral values. Prophet Muhammad (SWT) has said, “ when sin afflicts people and they publicize it, then Allah sunjcets them to ailments unknown in their forefathers.” (Reorted in Sahi Tirmizi)_ In our country moral climate is getting worse mainly due to available Indian movies, cable TV and pornographic films. In major cities educated (school, college and university going) young generation is also badly affected by Internet where pornography is easily available. These days, getting excess to cable TV is very easy and cheap. Most of the channels display filthy programs often targeted to the teenagers and younger children. Even shows touted as “family friendly” are filled with sexual innuendo, moral perversion, homosexuality and every combination of dysfunctional families that you can think of. VCD shops are so wide spread that you can find every nook and corner of the towns and even in the villages. All the shops are usually used to display the Indians VCD but porno VCDs remain under the self. Worth mentioning, last year I went to my village where there is no electricity and most of the people are illiterate. I was agape to see the VCD shop! Our government or political leaders are indifferent about the moral degradation. But leaders of some ASEAN countries (Singapore, Malaysia) have restricted the cable TV and banned porno films. Our government must take bold steps to prevent moral degration otherwise a bleak future is awaiting for us. _ Religion is the key to curtailing the HIV epidemic Only education and awareness will not prevent HIV epidemic. As we know, USA is the most civilized industrial nation in the world. But studies show that HIV infection rate is still high. Moreover, other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are also increasing at an alarming rate. The annual incidence of syphilis is 130,000, gonorrhea 1.4 million, chlamydia 4 million, pelvic inflammatory disease 420,000 and genital herpes about 500,000. Muslim societies in love with Western life style are also catching up. Another important point needs to mull over that emphasis on condoms give a false impression about the safety. FDA study showed that new codoms had breakge rates of up to 9% and there was a 38% leakage rate of HIV-size particles (AIDS virus is one-fifth the size of the sperm) in the condom tested. So condoms are not totally risk-free to prevent HIV infection._ As muslims, we are fortunate to have in our culture and way of life the basic essential elements of an effective solution. Decency, modesty and virtuous sexual morality are vital factors in controlling the virus casuing AIDS epidemic and its spread. Figures published by WHO on the spread of AIDS in the world show very clearly that Islamic values and traditions, although not fully adhered to or respected, represents a strong and effective means of prevention against the spread of the virus in the muslim countries. Rates of infection in Muslim countries are far lower than those in non-Muslim ones. Infection is also much lower amonst Muslims living in non-Muslim countries. This fact should not prevent us, however, from opening our eyes to see problem that is growing amonst us. _ Blaming certain groups also allows societies to avoid responsibility of dealing with the epidemic. This denial can be dangerous. Government may hide cases, fail to gather accurate data or not care for people with HIV/AIDS. Officials may use figures of detected cases rather than estimated cases to downplay the magnitude of the epidemic in the country. People at risk may be denial. They may assure a false sense of security by believing only “ outsiders” or marginalized groups can become infected. Stigmatizing an AIDS patient as being sinful or deserving punishment serves little purpose. Besides the fact that many AIDS patients contracted the disease without being sinful, stigmatizing AIDS patients actually further promotes the spread of the disease.
December
9, 2003 |
