Sex Workers and HIV in Bangladesh: Closing Gaps for a Safer Tomorrow

• In Bangladesh, over 12,000 female sex workers are between the ages of 10 and 19.
• The country witnessed 266 HIV-related deaths in 2023, marking its highest annual fatality count.

Hira Akhter, born as the daughter of a sex worker, began working at the age of 12 with a humanitarian agency that provided education, counseling, and mental health support to children of sex workers in her community.

A UNAIDS study revealed that globally, sex workers face nine times higher relative risk of acquiring HIV compared to the general population. Due to the transmission of HIV through bodily fluids, unprotected intercourse with multiple partners puts female sex workers at particularly high risk.

With her deep understanding of the sex worker community, Hira now acts as a vital link between her community and various government and non-governmental stakeholders. She works to create supportive environments for female sex workers with the assistance of multiple organizations.

Dr. Rounak Khan, Chief of Party for Save the Children’s HIV/AIDS Program in Bangladesh, highlighted the harsh realities faced by female sex workers in the country: “Sold by traffickers, raped, abused, and stigmatized, they face immense challenges in every aspect of their existence.”

The organization targets key populations, including female sex workers, through harm reduction strategies such as syringe and needle exchange programs, condom distribution, and behavior change communication to curb HIV transmission.

A Department of Public Health study revealed that over 12,000 female sex workers in Bangladesh are aged between 10 and 19. Furthermore, the study found that half of all female sex workers in the country started commercial sex work before turning 20.

The study also pointed out that time constraints often force sex workers to engage in unprotected sex. It noted: “To earn, they must complete the sexual act within a short time, as they have to accommodate multiple clients. The reason is money.”

The theme of this year’s AIDS Day, “Take the Right Path to End AIDS,” underscores the need for systemic changes. However, as studies highlight the coercion and vulnerabilities faced by sex workers, achieving the UNAIDS goal of ending AIDS by 2030 remains a formidable challenge.

Hira, in her interview with Dhaka Tribune, expressed her hope: “I want violence and discrimination against women to be reduced, and everyone to get their due rights.”

In 2023, Bangladesh reported 266 deaths due to HIV—the highest annual death toll since the first case was identified in 1989. That same year, 1,276 people were newly infected with HIV, including 1,118 Bangladeshi citizens and 158 Rohingya refugees living in Cox’s Bazar camps.