"Police beat us, alleging some NGOs are doing business in the name of protecting sex workers from AIDS," said a hermaphrodite sex worker, involved with the HIV outreach programme of CARE Bangladesh.

The sex workers at the discussion, "Media Campaign on Legal, Ethical and Human Rights Issues for the HIV/AIDS-Related Vulnerable Groups," also alleged that police, local gangsters and fake journalists abused them in multiple ways.

A member of Durjoy, an organisation of sex workers, alleged many policemen had had unpaid sex with them and behaved rudely, when they demanded money.

She said, "Clients don't want to use condoms during sex. We have launched an awareness campaign to alert the sex workers to HIV risk and motivate them not to have unprotected sex."

The discussion, organised by Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), quoted official statistics until December 1, 2002 as saying Bangladesh has 248 HIV-positive people, while the World Health Organisation put the figure at 13,000 to 17,000.

Among the government-detected HIV-positive people, 111 (68 per cent) are workers, 88 (36.85 per cent) unknown, 25 (11.42 per cent) housewives, seven commercial sex workers, five children under 15, three businessmen, two infants, two truckers, two prisoners and one student.

The 10 HIV-vulnerable groups include migrant workers, hermaphrodites, sex workers, street children, truck drivers, professional blood donors and intravenous drug users.

Journalist Saleem Samad moderated the discussion and BMSF Executive Director Kamruzzaman Kamal delivered the concluding speech urging all to come forward to make a favourable environment for the sex workers to speak out their problems.

Representatives from different NGOs, Bangladesh Bar Council and journalists, among others, took part in the discussion.