Third Gender Recognition in Bangladesh

Hijra, mostly known as transgender people in western countries. But the hijras in Bangladesh do not really think of themselves as transgender. Most of them see themselves as neither women or men. They face this challenge of sex and gender issues. They are originally born as male. Some of them identify themselves as women and some as a third gender. Many of them go under many feminizes surgeries and other processes.  But most of them are rather happy identifying themselves as a third gender. Hijras in Bangladesh have to face a tremendous amount of daily challenges. Mostly they come from the low class of the society and live by going from door to door and asking for alms.

In 2013, 11th November, Monday prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, added a new identity in petition, third gender, in official documents in a cabinet meeting. This incident took place after a two day roundtable discussion of Center for health, law, Ethics and technology in Jindal Global Law School on 9th to 10th of November. Also there were discussion on “Human Rights of Transgender People, Hijars and other gender non-normative gender groups in India”. The decision taken by the prime minister of Bangladesh spread tremendous amount of joy among the hijras and all the institution supporting them. In Bangladesh there are more than 10,000 hijras and they were given the rights they deserve as just another human being.

"I never dreamt that I would see this day in my life," said Sonali, a 25-year-old hijra who uses one name.

After the declaration the cabinet secretary Muhammed Musharraf Hossain said “There are at least 10,000 hijras in Bangladesh. They are being denied their rights in various sectors including education, health, housing because of being a marginal group”. It is also said by him that Hijras will be known and called as Hijras in both English and Bangla. Translating the name by any other word will be misleading.

One year later, on 10th November, 2014 at least 1000 hijras marched on the roads of the capital city to express their joy about the landmark decision. As their days of fear, stigma and discrimination are over.

First Nation Wide March of Hijras in the Nation