SME loan for hermaphrodites, ethnic groups

Entrepreneurs belonging to third gender, who are often looked down upon, will get bank loans from now on under the central bank's financial inclusion drive.

Bangladesh Bank has directed all banks to extend credit facility to entrepreneurs who are classed as hijras or hermaphrodites under the small and medium enterprise category of customers.

The central bank issued a circular in this regard on Tuesday.

Third gender and third sex is the concept that individuals are categorised, by their will or by social consensus, as neither man nor woman.

In 2013, the government recognised the hijras as the third gender to ensure their rights, enabling them to identify their gender in documents such as passports. In 2009, Bangladesh allowed hijras to vote for the first time.

There are at least 10,000 hijras in Bangladesh, according to official estimate.

The central bank also ordered banks to lend entrepreneurs belonging to the physically challenged group, marginalised women entrepreneurs and all indigenous groups, including the Rakhine community.