Prostitution in Bangladesh: A Colonial Legacy Leading to a Moral Disaster Exploitation, subjugation and physical annihilation against weaker nations are not the only crimes of the European colonialists. In Islamic countries, they went further to rock their moral fabrics that were built through centuries. Institutionalised practice of such immorality in the form of prostitution is such an immoral colonial legacy in Bangladesh. They nurtured and sponsored such a vice as a profession. These colonialists descended on that Muslim land from a different social, cultural and moral milieu. Secularisation left them bereft of moral values that could prevent them from institutionalisation of such a sin. Their hedonist lust took them to promiscuity, homosexuality, prostitution and other perversions that were unknown at least in the public arena. These were indeed severely punishable offence in any Muslim land. Unfettered sex was not a crime in their value system, but in Bangladesh they did not have institutional premise to put that in practice. Hence, they launched prostitution not only as a trade, but also an institution.
They established western cultural islands in almost all cities, especially in capitals, ports, and district and sub-district townships. They raised them as safe havens for free sex, gambling and other immoralities; and started franchising such sins in every corner of the country. The government patronage helped such vice spills over even to interiors. The trade also developed consumers amidst natives; the feudal, the zaminder, the business elite and those who were adequately taken away from religion also joined the rank. Later on, the colonialists deployed this sin as a tool to increase their income, their introduced toll on it. To make the Muslims morally corrupt and powerless, the colonialist had a more nefarious design. They targeted the institutions, which were indispensable for Islam's survival. These are the social venues that nurture the desired norms, values and behaviour necessary for developing a value-based Muslim society. Mosque, Islamic schools (madrasa) and family are such institutions, Islam sustains as a way of life to cater services for the mankind by means of these organs. If these institutions turn non-functional, Islam as a way of life can not exist either. Dismantling Islamic institutions was therefore the ulterior motive of the anti- Islamic forces in all times. Prostitution has been institutionalised by the secular forces to work with such purpose. It was introduced to destroy moral and family values- the core essence of an Islamic community. Besides, they introduced secular education to foster values that are compatible with the western vice and detrimental to Islamic faith. Education itself is a tool of guidance, the colonialists used it to guide people towards its own way, and much away from Islam. Cultural conversion was the profound outcome; and the new converts became the arch protectors of the corrupt colonial legacy. This is why, after the departure of colonialists, prostitution could continue in a Muslim country like Bangladesh with out any support from its original initiators. The native converts not only faithfully did the job; but also made those vice more robust and pervasive. The disease was endemic in the past, but now has scaled up to an epidemic proportion. Such punishable moral crime now draws full recognition from the secular law, the judiciary, the media and the government. The perpetrators are now labelled as sex worker. In Bangladesh, de-Islamisation is a major secularist agenda. Secular education, media, cinema, theatre, Internet - all are working as parts of a single package to do the job. They are being used not only to disrupt the societal norm, and but also to undermine the moral thresholds. The Islamic values, norms and practices that were developed through centuries are now facing constant cultural aggression. Promoting prostitution is now a major project of the global anti-Islamic coalition. They find it a better weapon to fight Islamic revival. They know that sowing vices in public life is the sure way of reaping corrupt faith. Culmination of such public sin in an individual renders him or her morally irreparable. Allah (SWT) has repeatedly revealed in the Holy Qur'an, He does not guide a sinner (faasiq). Hence, by joining prostitution or extra-marital sex, life takes an irreparable turn towards anti-Islam. The most trusted accomplices of the devils are thus produced through such institutions of sins. This is why promotion of prostitution or free sex becomes the key strategy of the anti-Islamic forces in Muslim countries. To supplement this evil design, the Bangladesh government has put hurdles against lawful sex and liberalises the avenues of illicit sex. To reduce the population growth, the law fixes the minimum age of marriage at 18. It brought debacle to the growth of moral health. Islam did not prescribe such a marital age. Rebellion against Allah's law went further to make illicit sex no crime if committed with the consent of both the parties. But marriage before the age of 18 has been made unlawful, hence a criminal offence. Law thus made permissible sex impermissible, and permits the illicit sex. In Islam, marriage is an important institution; fostering sound family and Islamic community is impossible without it. If it is delayed or restrained, the growth of Islamic values meets disasters. In Bangladesh, the importance of such an institution has been undermined only to reduce the growth of population. Thousands of government and non-government workers are distributing condoms and pills from door to door to reduce birth of the unwanted child, but none is there to tell that extra-marital sex is a great sin, and it jeopardises the growth of public morale and a healthy Muslim community. Reducing extra-marital sex is not a government agenda, since it delays marriage and reduces childbirth, extra-marital sex is rather tolerated with conspicuous silence. Alongside the permissive government policy, the USAID - the prime donor of population programme in Bangladesh, has opened numerous clinics to clear womb of the unwed and the unwanted pregnant. Hence a silent genocide is going on with a full swing. Although it not permissible by law, the law enforcing agencies keep blind eye on this, as if they have seen nothing of that kind. Since marriage is labelled a powerful tool for population growth, the Family Planning practitioners considers prostitution and other devices of extra-marital sex as convenient birth-reducing alternatives. This is why if any religious group raises their voice against such vice, the whole battalion of the USAID supported Family Planning NGOs takes position in the street. Such posture of GOs and NGOs has strong moral implication, it has already damaged the behavioural norms. The symptoms have already started giving awful signals. One of the UN's population experts recently revealed a report that more than half of the Bangladeshi people experience sex before marriage. Is it not horrendous for a Muslims nation? It testifies how the morality is plummeting towards an abysmal end. But how could a country that nurtures, protects and legalises prostitution, and restricts marriage escape such moral disaster? http://www.firozmahboobkamal.com/english-articles/42-miscellaneous/100-prostitution-in-bangladesh.html
