RAJSHAHI, Nov 22, 2023 (BSS) - A daylong job fair was held here today aimed at mainstreaming the people of third gender through their self-employment.

On behalf of its project titled "Women's Voice and Leadership Bangladesh", Diner Alo Hijra Sangha (DAHS) organized the fair at Shah Dain Convention Centre with participation of ten job-providing private organizations.

Commissioner of Rajshahi Division Dr Dewan Humayun Kabir attended and addressed the opening ceremony as chief guest with DAHS President Mohona in the chair.

Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Hemayetul Islam and business leader Sekendar Ali also spoke on the occasion.

In the fair, job confirmation was given to five transgender youths, besides accepting curriculum vitae (CV) of 20 others for scrutiny.

Commissioner Dr Humayun Kabir said integrated efforts of all the government and non-government organizations concerned can be the effective means of social integration of the transgender people because they are the integral parts of the society.
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has adopted various steps for mainstreaming the third gender people through ensuring their fundamental rights. So, concerted efforts are very important to supplement the government endeavor.

He viewed the proactive and sensible role of both the print and electronic media has become crucial to ensure the legitimate rights of the third gender people as they are the integral parts of the society.
 
Ensuring the rights of health, education, social and legal rights of the transgender people is very important for improving their living and livelihood conditions.

DAHS has been implementing the four-year programme styled 'Leadership and Empowerment of Transgender' in Rajshahi city and nine upazilas of the district for the last couple of years.

Mohona also highlighted the activities of the organizations for elevating the living and livelihood condition of transgender people in the city.
 
She pointed out that the members of the community are always subjected to negligence and repression in every sphere of life including family and society.
 
The Hijra community is deprived of several rights, she added. She also said the present government, particularly Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is very much positive towards solving the existing problems of the Hijra community.
 
The public in general have a very narrow mindset regarding genderless people and they should change their mentality. Being rejected by families, many grew up hating their bodies, and fall victim to depression, drug addiction, violence and suicide.
 
Around 2.5 percent people of the total population were genderless, she said, adding that time has come to ensure their basic rights.