An evident disparity in quality of life

Members of the hijra and transgender communities continue to be discriminated in every aspect of their lives, including healthcare, housing, employment opportunities, and emergency aid, said speakers at an advocacy meeting yesterday.

There is also a knowledge gap and lack of sensitivity among medical practitioners, law enforcers, and officials of the government and judiciary regarding the communities, they said.

Somporker Noya Setu (SNS) organised the meeting, titled "Mobilise Emergency Support for Gender Diverse Populations of Bangladesh", at a city hotel.

Parbati Ahmed, chairperson of Sustha Jibon, shared how one of her community members was initially denied treatment for being a hijra, and later was sexually harassed at the operation theatre of the capital's Sir Salimullah Medical College.

"At first, she was denied treatment and labelled as a fake hijra. Later, when she went in for her surgery, she was mocked for identifying as a hijra and was told that she was faking it for benefits," she said.

Parbati also urged separate laws and services for establishing the rights of the gender-diverse population, ending all forms of discrimination towards them, and reforming the definition of rape in the penal code, which only caters to women and children.

The plight of the gender-diverse population is not prioritised in emergencies. Many members of the hijra and transgender communities were not allowed to get a Covid test done and were not considered for relief or financial aid during the pandemic. Moreover, law enforcers are more than often reluctant to accept their complaints of sexual violence and rape.

— Rany Chowdhury General Secretary of Sheman Welfare Association

Ivan Ahmed Katha, president of Shachetan Shamjasheba Hijra Sangha, said doctors should treat patients regardless of their gender identity.

SNS President Joya Shikder said hijras are not born as hijras, and during puberty, most of them are abandoned by their families and society.

"Since they are kicked out, they face sexual harassment everywhere and take the shelter of their gurus. They are deprived of their basic human rights. If there is a dedicated shelter for them, they too can flourish and do better in life," said Joya.

Rany Chowdhury, general secretary of Sheman Welfare Association, said, "The plight of the gender-diverse population is not prioritised in emergencies. Many members of the hijra and transgender communities were not allowed to get a Covid test done and were not considered for relief or financial aid during the pandemic."

"Moreover, law enforcers are more than often reluctant to file their complaints of sexual violence and rape," she claimed.Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) Junior Advocacy Officer Shova Sarker said there is a knowledge gap regarding where members of these communities can go when they face harassment.

"For example, although there are some services for the gender-diverse population in the one-stop crisis centre or National Legal Aid Services Organisation, in reality, most of them do not know about it," she said.

Transwoman S Srabonti said although the gender-diverse population is approximately 1,50,000 in Bangladesh, the recent population and housing census of 2022 included transgender people as a separate gender and found only 12,629 members belonging to these communities.

"An overwhelming majority of them were left out from the calculation. This would not be the case if there were at least one representative from the gender-diverse communities in every district," she said.

In his keynote presentation, Supreme Court lawyer Md Tazul Islam recommended that all the laws and policies contradictory to the rights of this population be identified and reformed.

He also urged to incorporate the needs of transgender adolescents and the community in general in operational plans of both Directorate General of Family Planning and Directorate General of Health Services.

At the same time, there must be sensitisation training for the judiciary officials and law enforcers on the issues of the gender-diverse population.

Md Shah Jahan, deputy director of the social-services department, said this population could be rehabilitated to shelters, from which they can engage in activities that generate income.

Dr Md Moktar Hossain, director of the social services department, and Brac Director Shamim Ara Shammi also spoke at the event, moderated by SNS General Secretary Md Rafiqul Islam.