A brilliantly photographed series on the dangerous, grueling lives of teenage sex workers in Bangladeshi slums. Read more here .
Seventeen-year-old prostitute Hashi embraces a Babu, her "husband", inside her small room at Kandapara brothel in Tangail, a northeastern city of Bangladesh. Many young and inexperienced prostitutes have "lovers" or "husbands" who normally live outside the brothel, occasionally taking money and sex from them in exchange for security in this male dominated society. She earns about 800-1000 taka daily ($9.75 - $12.19) servicing around 15-20 customers every day. Hashi is one of hundreds of mostly teenage sex workers living a painful life of exploitation in the brothel.
(Reuters / Andrew Biraj)
Hashi shows Oradexon at Kandapara brothel in Tangail. Oradexon, a steroid used by farmers to fatten their cattle, is taken by prostitutes in order to gain weight and appear "healthier" and more attractive to clients.
(Reuters / Andrew Biraj)
Eleven-year-old Shefali gets her eyebrow threaded. Shefali was born in Kandapara brothel as her mother was also a prostitute. She has to serve around 20-25 customers per day. Shefali doesn't know how much she earns as her Madam takes away all of her income. In exchange she gets food three times in a day and some gifts occasionally.
(Reuters / Andrew Biraj)
Nineteen-year-old Lucky embraces her three-month-old son Riyad at Kandapara brothel in Tangail.
(Reuters / Andrew Biraj)