A HIV infected woman uttered emotionally, “ I have got this from my husband. Now I am the one to bear the burden. Currently I am living a helpless life.” This lady from Sylhet burst into tears while saying this. She also said, “ I have seen more people accepting this ill fortune. When HIV infected person’s identities were known, people have beaten them, scolded them and kicked them out of their homes.” She hoped for the combined initiative of the society to get rid off this situation.

Worldwide, women are at higher risk to be infected by HIV virus. According to the sociologists, male-dominated social system has increased this risk several times. In some cases, husbands go to several places and have unsafe sex and carry back different sexual diseases. Later, while meets his wife infects her. Moreover woman hardly plays any part in sexual relations in country like ours. Husband’s demand always gets priority.

Deputy executive director of Bangladesh Women’s Health Coalition Dr. Julia Ahmed has said that though women are playing less risky part in our country yet they are at higher risk. And that is not only for husbands. Women become victim of sexual abuse in many ways, are traded to other countries for money. These have increased the risk multiple times. Women hardly have chance to get enough information to prevent HIV/AIDS. Besides, the services we have in our country regarding this are not sufficient. Whatever we have are not friendly with women.

UNAIDS has reported that there are 3100 HIV infected women in Bangladesh among approximately 13000 total infected persons. It also said that in every 14 seconds one single person is at risk to become infected by HIV virus in the world, most of them are women.

On the other hand, UNFPA published “Making One Billion Count: Investing in Adolescent Health and Rights” has reported that for various reasons women are at more risk than men to get infected by HIV virus. To decrease this risk it emphasizes on women empowerment.

VCT unit of ICDDRB has found 47 HIV positive persons who came there to test their blood from 2002-2004.Among them 12 are women and most of them have got the virus through husband. Again among these 12 women, seven husbands live abroad. Though the number is less yet it is a matter of worry in the context of our country. Chairman of Virology department in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Dr. Nazrul Islam has said that while having sex with a HIV infected person, women are at 2 to 2 ½ times more risk than men. So, if we consider this, women’s risk is higher.

Worldwide, women and children are being forced for prostitution. Moreover, women are accepting this misfortune after being victimized of illegal trading. After surveying few bordering villages near Benapol in Jessore, it is found that quite large number of women are engaged in black marketing. Indian BSF and Bangladeshi BDR often sexually abuse them. A victim of such case has reported that they do not look back to take even more risk due to hunger. Women of this category are at risk of different sexually transmitted diseases due to polygamy.

According to the statistics of different women organizations, thousands of women are being traded daily through different borders. Some of them go at their wish for a better life because of poverty. In most cases, they do not have any other choice but to prostitute. And these women who are victims of sexual abuse in so many different ways, live, with the high risk of getting infected by deadly HIV/AIDS virus.