DHAKA, June 5, 2024 (BSS)- Rashed, working in a private organisation, was in a hurry to go to office for attending a meeting. Accordingly, he boarded on a bus in the city’s Farmgate area. He was stranded in a traffic jam, it was too late to enter his office as he had an urgent meeting with foreign merchandisers. Suddenly he found a group of transgender people entering  into the bus and started collecting money. Rashed also gave them Taka 10. But they wanted more from him. Rashed got angry and beat up those transgender people.
 
It was not the lone incident in the city or other places of the country. The transgender community, well known as ‘hizra’, often harass people. Even, they enter into houses of newborn babies or wedding  events to demand ‘big money’.
 
Finding a job for any transgender people is never easy. Transgender people in Bangladesh have now a pathway toward dignified work.
 
Thirty-three-year-old Kawser is a transgender man and he was anxious about getting any employment. He said, “We’ve no any other profession. From our childhood, we’ve been detached from our families. From the very beginning we’ve learnt begging. But the common people told it an ‘extortion’.”
 
The transgender community also wants to join the mainstream of development with the help of the state. They also want to create example before the society despite societal stigma.
 
For this, they need only government’s association or employment opportunity. They were forced to go to astray due to non-cooperation from their own families, social inequality, negative attitude and due to lack of government facilities.
 
Kawser, who is from Keraniganj of Dhaka, is now selling ‘pan and cigarettes’ at different places in Dhaka city. He is bearing his family costs from the business. Even, he is running educational expenses of his sister and brother.
 
Every member of his family is normal. But Kawsar is a transgender man. Once, he felt ill-fated and thought that why the ‘Lord’ did it with him. But now he has accepted his destiny and said ‘What is happened . . . all is good’.
 
Kawsar said he was also involved in ‘hijra profession’ as he didn’t find any scope of earning money in a proper way. At the age 24, he took some loan from a person from his area who loved Kawsar and started selling ‘pan and cigarettes’.
 
Kawsar said, in the beginning, it was not so easy to sell. Many people didn’t want to buy. They (people) thought that he (Kawsar) would demand money, he said, adding that later, their mentality and attitude have changed and his sale has increased.
 
Kawsar said, “Now, I’m bearing all my family expenses. His family includes his mother, a sister and a brother. My sister and brother are now going to college.”
 
Like Kawsar, thirty-five-year-old Nilima’s story is almost same. She was born in Sylhet city. After her birth, the family members handed her over to the transgender community.
 
After that, she lived with them. They (transgender community) gave her education. But, at the age of 16, Nilima was also involved with their profession.
 
Once, Nilima thought it was not good. She tried to give up the profession. With the help of her elder sister, she started a job at an NGO. Now, Nilima is bearing her family expenses from her income.
 
Nilima said it is now normal. “My own family has accepted me. I also help them to run family costs. I also accept everything and try to live with my health condition.”
 
She said, at present, the Awami League government is also helping the transgender community. “But, along with the state, every solvent person should come forward to help the community. Thus, they (transgender) would play a pivotal role in the society also. Even, they can set examples before the society,” Nilima added.