HAMIDA Begum’s recent funeral was an important event in Bangladesh. The 65-year-old was the first sex worker from Daulatdia to receive a formal Islamic funeral. Daulatdia is one of about 12 legal brothel areas operating in the country.
In Bangladesh, prostitution is legal but regarded by many as immoral. So, after death, their bodies frequently tossed into unmarked graves or dumped in the river.
More than 200 mourners attended the religious ceremony, while a further 400 went to the post-funeral feast and prayers, the police said.
"I never dreamed that she would get such an honourable farewell," said Begum's daughter Laxmi, who followed her mother into the trade.
She added that her mother was treated like a human being.
Islamic spiritual leaders have for decades rejected funeral prayers for sex workers because they view prostitution as immoral.
When Begum died, her family planned to put her in an unmarked grave. But a coalition of sex workers persuaded the local police to talk religious leaders into giving her a proper burial.
The Imam was initially reluctant but finally agreed to lead the prayers.
In the early 2000s, local authorities gave some groundstroke for unmarked graves, and families would pay drug addicts to carry out burials, usually at night without formal prayers.
The brothel was established a century ago under British colonial rule, but moved to its current location, near a ferry station, after locals torched the old complex in 1988.
Bangladesh is one of the few Muslim countries in the world where prostitution is legal for women aged 18 or older and workers are required to hold a certificate stating they are adults, and consent to the work.
English questioning rose from 20 per cent to 31 per cent, and racist jokes from 36 per cent to 41 per cent
Workplace violence against Black and ethnic minority employees rises to 26 per cent
Highlights
The Trades Union Congress surveyed 1,044 Black, Asian and ethnic minority employees. The results show clear increases in racist behaviour between 2020 and 2026.
Workers having their English questioned rose from 20 per cent to 31 per cent. Those hearing racist jokes went up from 36 per cent to 41 per cent.
Racist comments made to workers or around them increased from 31 per cent to 36 per cent.
Violence and threats
The most worrying finding involves physical threats and violence, which jumped from 19 per cent to 26 per cent.
Racist posts shared on workplace social media grew from 22 per cent to 28 per cent. Racist materials being passed around increased from 19 per cent to 25 per cent.
Beyond direct racism, many workers face unfair treatment. Nearly half (45 per cent) said they get harder or less popular jobs.
Over two in five (43 per cent) receive unfair criticism. The same number (41 per cent) stay stuck on temporary contracts.
Work conditions got worse too. Those not getting enough hours rose from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.
Workers denied overtime went from 30 per cent to 37 per cent. Being kept on short-term contracts increased from 33 per cent to 41 per cent.
Direct managers cause most unfair treatment (35 per cent), followed by other managers (19 per cent).
Bullying mainly comes from direct managers (30 per cent) and colleagues (28 per cent). Racist behaviour mostly comes from colleagues (33 per cent) and customers or clients (22 per cent).
Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary, said: "Black and ethnic minority workers are facing appalling and growing levels of racism and unfair treatment in Britain. This racism is plaguing the labour market – and it's getting worse."
The TUC is calling for urgent government action to tackle the problem. The union wants ring-fenced funding for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to enforce workplace protections.
It is pushing for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting for companies with over 50 employees.
The TUC says the Employment Rights Act, which makes employers responsible for protecting workers from harassment by customers and clients, will be an important step forward.
The union also wants employers to treat racial harassment as a health and safety issue and monitor ethnicity data across recruitment, pay and promotions.