Kandapara () is a village in the Tangail District of Bangladesh. It is the oldest brothel in the country, being founded about 200 years ago, and was the second largest brothel in Bangladesh until the closure of the Tanbazar in 1999, when it became the largest. The area was demolished in 2014, but was rebuilt with the help of NGOs. Overview Kandapara has a total of about 600 houses where between 900 and 1,200 sex workers live. The actual number may be higher as the area has many underage prostitutes and their presence is usually hidden by their mothers or the madams who they work for. Many 12-14-year-old girl come to Kandapara from poor families or are trafficked from various countries in southeast Asia including Nepal. These "bonded girls" are indebted to a madam and are unable to go out of the house or keep any of the money they earn until the debt is paid off. This may take 1–5 years, and once the debt is paid off they are free to leave. Due to stigmatisation outside the brothel area many choose to stay. One study found over 50% of the prostitutes were in debt, or had been in debt, to a madam. In order to take up prostitution as a profession, a woman must submit an affidavit stating that they have chosen prostitution as their profession by choice and that they are unable to find another occupation. A cooperative named Nari Mukti Sangha was set up by the sex workers in 2005. The cooperative is a self-help group that aims to improve social, legal and human rights. It is registered with the government. Drug use The use of the steroid Oradexon is widespread amongst the sex workers. They take it to put on weight and obtain a fuller figure that clients prefer. Charities reported in 2012 that 90% of the sex workers were taking the steroid. History The village was originally built on land owned by the local zamindar Santosh, during the British colonial era. Over time, various parts of the 3 acre area were sold to private owners. By 2014 the whole area was in private ownership, 39 plots belonging to sex workers and the remaining 10 lots all belonging to men. In October 2006, the "Brothel Eviction Committee", led by the then Tangail Municipality chairman, Jamilur Rahman, and composed of local citizens and clerics, tried to