Negative attitude towards transgender people decried
Speakers at a discussion yesterday stressed the need for launching a massive campaign to remove society's negative attitude towards the transgender (hijra) community as a way of promoting its development and protecting its rights.
Social rejection of and lack of education among the community are major barriers towards integrating it into the mainstream. Programmes for social awareness and their capacity building are, therefore, crucial in their uplift, they said.
The remarks came at a discussion, “Integration of the transgender population into mainstream society: Challenges and way forward”, at Technical Teachers Training College auditorium in the city.
Team-E of batch-32 under MATT2 Project of the ministry of public administration organised the programme.
The team, with financial support from Skills Development Project under the education ministry, initiated a pilot project under the programme.
Speaking as the chief guest, Social Welfare Minister Enamul Hoque Mostofa Shaheed said the development of an entire society was not possible if the marginalised community was left out.
“So necessary focus should be laid on improving their lifestyle and protection of their rights,” he said, adding that his ministry had already placed a budget of Tk 15 crore toward the community's development.
Education Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury said the transgender community should be provided with all sorts of citizens' facilities to improve their living standards.
In his remarks, Centre for Policy Dialogue Executive Director Prof Mustafizur Rahman emphasised conducting a national survey to find the accurate figures for the transgender population of the country.
Iqbal Khan Chowdhury, additional secretary (development) at the education ministry, said there should be a national policy or act to help the development of the transgender population.
Hijra Foundation Bangladesh Member Secretary Joya Sikder demanded resolving the community's accommodation crisis and ensuring its access to higher education on an emergency basis.
Advocate Salma Ali, executive director of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, and Selima Ahmed, president of Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bangladesh, also spoke at the function.
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