Re: AIDS Threat to Bangladesh from India

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

I cannot help but wonder how such a bigoted xenophobic and patently racist mail

was allowed by the moderator.

Deepak Batura

E-mail: <d_batura@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

This is my response to the issue raised by Mr. Mohammad Zainal Abedin regarding

his apprehension of spreading HIV/AIDS from India

to Bangladesh.

It has now been globally accepted that the main observed mode of transmission of

HIV Virus is sexual intercourse and fundamentally explained by certain

behavioral factors, which in turn may vary from one culture to other.

However, Mr. Abedin without addressing many local issues aggressively tried to

show down Indian solders by calling them `morally bankrupt'. Morality is a

relative term and promoting such ethnocentric attitude may escalate the mental

unrest of the two neighboring nation-state.

The way letter has been written in this forum give the impression that the

writer is not sensitive to the issues of sex and sexuality and `sex' seems to be

a taboo for him.

On the other hand, it seems that Mr. Abedin is quite ignorant of the primary

routs through which HIV/AIDS can be spread between the two countries, and tried

to camouflage the main issue by unrealistic assumption of how HIV will spared in

the Indian subcontinent.

Moreover, it seems that without considering the political-economic situation

between the countries he raised some illogical argument. I would like to

address only few issues raised by Mr. Abedin.

It is validated truth that, every year a huge number of underprivileged

Bangladeshi women/Girls are either trafficked or illegally migrate two Mumbai.

Many of them, in search of servitude, engage themselves into sex trade

(Bargirls, floating sex worker etc), in the absence of alternative job

opportunities.

Moreover, it has also been observed, due to sever competition for clients, they

indulge into risky sexual behavior such as non-use of condom. Under this

situation, in the absence of prevalence data on the basis of origin of the sex

worker, it is not very worthy to feel that STI/HIV prevalence is either high or

at least same as similar group of indigenous sex worker population.

This foreign-born high-risk group of population maintains a regular relation

with their relatives at the place of origin. They visit their native places

after a long interval of six-month or a year and stays there for a considerable

amount of times. Some times, till the cease of their earnings. Some of these

girls have their spouse at the place of origin as well as place of destination.

Therefore, the above-mentioned network reflects that how vulnerability of the

HIV transmission increases through the routs of illegal migration. At the same

time sex is not a booming industry in India but byproduct of post cold war

political transition across the globe.

The network, which I have mentioned here, is the simplest version of the

situation, which reflects putting barriers to `Indian demand for corridor' is

neither necessary, nor an issue of concern to put a curb on spread of HIV/AIDS

in the Indian subcontinent.

The international trade between the two countries has started booming since mid

eighties with the opening of Burimari corridor of Rangpur district of

Bangladesh. Bangladesh uses this rout two trade with three countries namely

Bhutan, India and Nepal. Large volume Bhutan's external trade composed of trade

with Bangladesh. It is important to note that, the stones and boulders for the

construction of Bangabandhu setu (Yamuna Bridge), which brought communication

revaluation in Bangladesh imported from India through this transit rout.

Therefore, my point is that in the era of globalization when we are talking of

forming `regional blocs' to promote international trade for the mutual benefit

of the nations, putting barriers on commuters, traders does not seems to me

logical. Moreover, It is not

true that Indian truck drivers, helpers and helpers enter Bangladesh illegally.

In fact it is only the two people, driver and helper, enters Bangladesh with

permission of the respective security authorities of both the countries.

The Bangladeshi officials are often delayed them after entering Bangladesh port,

on the ground of non-payment of import duties by the Bangladeshi importer. Some

times they are held up at Bangladesh for more than 2-3 days. During this phase

they left with no money to buy food how they will go for sex.

The practical as well as feasible framework would be to create enabling

environment for the marginalized section of the society across the country. A

joint effort is require preventing trafficking as well as illegal migration. At

the same time we should address

link poverty eradication program along with anti-trafficking and HIV/AIDS

program.

I feel at the juncture of we should not encourage medieval values and should try

to create a common platform to fight together against this social problem which

has a direct relation with the some social problems in the Indian subcontinents

such as poverty, inequality, gender norms, illiteracy and so on.

Therefore, propagating half truth and promoting taboos and stigma is not a

desirable role of any civil society member.

Arup Kumar Das

E-mail: akd_iips@...