There are about 15 thousand hermaphrodites in our country. They live in abject poverty. Most of the hermaphrodites are discriminated against by their families, society and state. A team of hermaphrodites comes to an urban area from village for livelihood. They are controlled by the leader (Sorderni) in society.
Although the hermaphrodite community has got chance to cast their votes in the last general election but they are not accepted as an independent male or female in our community.
According to our religion, they can celebrate religious festivals. Even after 37 years of independence of Bangladesh, no government took any initiative for development and rehabilitation of the community.
Though the manifesto of the AL mentioned about the persons with disabilities but there was no mention of hermaphrodites.
The issue deserves a closer look.