a police cordon was put around the perimeter it to prevent anybody entering. The leaders of the brothel held a press conference on 14 July, urging the government not to evict them. They were supported at the press conference by various NGOs: Naripokkho; Care Bangladesh; Nari Maitree; Bangladesh Women's Health Coalition and sex worker organisations. 140 police and 34 magistrates raided the brothel on 24 July. The prostitute's leader was arrested and many of them fled fearing they would be arrested, leaving all their possessions behind. 267 sex workers were detained and transferred to the Vagrancy Centre at Gazipur. Human rights group and the media reported that the police engaged in violence and looting during the raid: "the policemen suddenly dragged them, abused and beat them and pushed them and their children into the waiting buses using filthy language". Conditions at the Vagrancy Centre were inhumane. The women reported being tortured and raped by guards, centre employees and other detained vagrants. 59 organisations formed a group named Shonghoti to protest against the eviction and subsequent human rights violations suffered by the sex workers. The group were attacked by thugs backed by government politicians near the Narayanganj police station on 30 July. After watching for a while, the police joined in with batons and tear gas. 40 women activists were injured. "Volunteer Association - 59" launched a writ action in the High Court for the violation of the sex workers' constitutional rights on 1 August. The High Court pronounced judgement on 14 March 2000. The main points of the judgement were: The profession of prostitution was not illegal and they has the right to fend for their living in any way possible. The eviction and detention at the Vagrancy Centre was unlawful. In August 2001 a group of around 100 sex workers tried to re-enter the brothel in an attempt to re-establish it. A fight broke out when the police moved to evict them, which lasted an hour before the brothel was cleared. At least 20 sex workers and 5 policemen were injured. See also Prostitution in Bangladesh Daulatdia Kandapara References Bibliography Brothels in Bangladesh Red-light districts in Bangladesh Populated places in Narayanganj District