RAJSHAHI, May 27, 2024 (BSS) - 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.
 
Some media personalities and transgender leaders came up with the observation while addressing a sensitization meeting with press and media people here today.

On behalf of its 'Strengthening Capacity of Gender Diverse Community to Protect Their Rights (SCG)' project, Diner Alo Hijra Sangha (DAHS), a non-government development organization working for the welfare of the socially excluded people, organized the meeting at Chef Garden restaurant in Rajshahi city.

With DAHS President Mohona in the chair, the meeting was addressed, among others, by its General Secretary and Ward Councilor of Rajshahi City Corporation Sultana Ahmed Sagorika and Journalists Dr Aynal Haque and Sharif Suman.

SCG Project Coordinator Abu Sayeed gave a salient feature of the project along with its aims, objectives and implementation strategy during his concept paper presentation in the meeting.
 
He said the project is being implemented for improving the living and livelihood conditions of 1,000 transgender people.

The society, as a whole and the journalists in particular, should come forward with a positive attitude toward the extremely socially excluded people for their coexistence in society.

DAHS has been implementing the three-year programme in Rajshahi city and nine upazilas of the district since December, 2022 last.

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, he added.

Around 2.5 percent people of the total population were genderless, she said, adding that time has come to ensure their basic rights.