Bethanie Mitchell

Documentary Photographer

Daulatadia at Work

Location: Seattle,Washington

Nationality: American

Biography: Bethanie Mitchell is an independent documentary photographer, author, journalist, and artist, as well as an educator currently based in Seattle, Washington. She works on projects and assignments while also teaching photography workshops. She... read on

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2549.jpg

Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh is located next to train tracks. Often male travelers stop into the brothel. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2540.jpg

Women with their children buy steroids at a pharmacy just outside of Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. Steroids plump up the face, which some in Bangladesh find a round face to be a sign of beauty. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2206.jpg

The only headstone in the graveyard for the prostitutes of Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. Most prostitutes are buried in unmarked graves which become overgrown with grass. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2328.jpg

A sex worker calls out to a client in Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2789.jpg

Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2509.jpg

A sex worker negotiates with a customer in Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2397.jpg

Dulal, 40, from Pabna village in Bangladesh proudly rests on the speakers at his nightclub, where he acts as club DJ. He has been running the club for six months. Men come to the club and drink alcohol and buy private dances from the sex workers. Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2340.jpg

A customer bargains with a Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2380.jpg

Tania, 15, with her son Thangil, 2, is a sex worker in Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. She is not sure who the father is, but it is a client. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2483.jpg

Nilu, 30 is a sex worker who has been staying in the brothel for twenty years. She started working when she was ten years old in Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. She is heavily addicted to yaba, a form of methamphetamine that is smuggled from Myanmar where it is produced and across the border into Bangladesh. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2531.jpg

Bangladesh style viagra for sexual virility is sold in Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2571.jpg

A sex worker prepares herself before going out to attract customers in Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Photography image - Loading daulatdia-2317.jpg

A sex worker and her son leave the back enterance of Daulatadia Brothel in Daulatadia, Rajbari, Bangladesh. Daulatadia is considered one of the largest brothels in the world and serves roughly 2500-3000 men daily. Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal. Though legally prostitutes must be at least 18 years of age many are tricked into the profession at a very young age.

Public Story

Daulatadia at Work

Credits: bethanie mitchell

Date of Work: 12/01/09 - 12/01/09

Updated: 12/12/19

Location: Bangladesh

Archived as: Documentary, Editorial, Photography, Photojournalism, Prostitution

Bangladesh is the only Muslim country in the world where prostitution is legal and it is also home to one of the largest brothels in the world. Daulatdia brothel in Rajbari, Bangladesh is home to over 1500 sex workers who service between 2500 and 3000 men a day. Brothels such as Daulatdia were placed in areas of the country where rape incidents were happening at an astounding rate. The development of brothels was implemented to curb sexual violence against women and children. Sex workers must legally be eighteen years of age to work as prostitutes, but many underage girls are sold to the brothel or tricked into the profession.

The prostitutes stay in cramped quarters, often alongside their children in Bangladesh’s bustling underworld of gambling, drugs, and nightlife. The average prostitute earns the equivalent of $2.80 USD for their services. Many women in the brothel serve up to eight clients a day and often fall pregnant without knowing who the father is. The children in Daulatdia are vulnerable to a number of dangers as they are hired to run drugs and errands for their mothers, retailers, and smugglers working in the brothel.