Brac Bank includes transgender, physically challenged to its team

Brac Bank has created employment opportunities for transgender people and people with physical challenges in its fleet as coworkers.

The bank will deploy five from the transgender community and nine physically challenged in different divisions of the bank based on their skillset, the bank said in a statement today.

Earlier on March this year, private television channel Boishkahi TV appointed the first ever transgender newscaster in Bangladesh, marking Bangladesh's 50 years of independence.

Tashnuva Anan Shishir, a talented model and actor, started her journey as a news presenter from March 8 this year on International Women's Day.

"Brac Bank believes that race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or physical challenges should not be any barrier for an individual to deliver their potential," said Selim RF Hussain, managing director and CEO of Brac Bank.

"Our existing coworkers are already sensitised to welcome the new teammates with open arms in the Brac Bank family. We believe our step would also create social awareness for adoption of transgender community into the mainstream."

Brac Bank has taken this initiative by responding to its conscience and inner calling as a responsible corporate citizen. 

"Somebody has to take the first move to dispel the social stigma and ensure social justice as every human deserves. I also thank the educational institutions that provided academic learning opportunities to transgender and physically challenged people."

Hussain also said: "As a values-based organisation, Brac Bank believes in 'leaving no one behind'. It respects and recognises the importance of distinctive life journeys that extend beyond the paradigms of gender."

"Our work focuses on creating equitable processes and policies that allow us to create space for everyone to thrive," he said.

"It ushers in a new era of creating an inclusive society where no one will be judged by their gender or other needs but by their talent and potential. We believe many organisations would emulate this example in creating opportunities for everyone."

Brac Bank has been the country's one of the fastest-growing banks since its inception in 2001 with a particular focus on the segment of small and medium enterprises.

With 187 branches, 374 automated teller machines, 461 SME unit offices, 541 agent banking outlets and a diverse workforce of more than 8,000 people, Brac Bank also serves customers across the corporate and retail segments.