In a historic leap for human rights in Bangladesh, children born in the Daulatdia brothel—once considered “invisible” by the state—have finally secured their legal identities. For the first time, all 400 children residing in the brothel village have been issued birth certificates, marking the end of decades of systemic exclusion.
For generations, these children were trapped in a legal vacuum. Because their mothers were sex workers and their fathers’ identities were often unknown, government officials routinely refused to issue the necessary documentation. This lack of a birth certificate effectively barred them from fundamental rights, including formal education, obtaining a passport, and the right to vote.
A Milestone for Fundamental Rights
The breakthrough is the result of years of tireless advocacy by local activists and international organizations. Khaleda Akhtar, the Bangladesh Program Manager for the London-based anti-slavery organization Freedom Fund, highlighted the gravity of this achievement.
“Previously, they were treated as ‘aliens’ in society, denied the basic rights of a citizen,” said Khaleda Akhtar. “This reform gives them their fundamental rights, makes them feel safer, and finally offers them hope for a future outside the brothel.”
The registration was made possible by leveraging a specific, yet long-overlooked, provision in the Birth and Death Registration Act. Since 2018, the law has permitted the registration of a child even if information about the parents is incomplete or unavailable. However, due to a lack of detailed guidelines, local officials often defaulted to traditional requirements, demanding a father’s name.
Breaking the Cycle of Vulnerability
Beyond access to schools, these legal documents serve as a critical shield against exploitation. Khaleda Akhtar, who has spent two decades rescuing minors from forced sex work, emphasized that without a birth certificate, it is nearly impossible to prove a girl is under the age of 18 in a court of law.
A 2024 survey conducted by Freedom Fund revealed a sobering reality: nearly half of the sex workers in Dhaka and surrounding areas were forced into the trade, with 21% being minors.
“If you don’t have a birth certificate, you are invisible to the state,” Khaleda Akhtar noted. “You become high-risk targets for abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. These certificates are not just paper; they are a tool for survival.”
A New Dawn for the Next Generation
The impact of this change is already visible on the ground. Campaigners noted that mothers in the brothel are now actively encouraging one another to register their children, recognizing that this document is the only way to break the cycle of poverty and social stigma.
Sabbir Hossain, a researcher who co-authored a study on the Banishanta brothel, recalled how parents previously had to resort to desperate measures—such as begging male acquaintances to “pose” as fathers or sending children to unregulated madrasas—just to provide them with a basic education.
For a 14-year-old girl in Daulatdia, the certificate means a government stipend and a seat in a regular classroom. As she told activists recently, “The government has finally recognized who I am.”
