RAJSHAHI, June 17, 2022 (BSS) - 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.
 
The views were expressed at a meeting that was held with the call for ensuring positive attitudes toward the extremely socially excluded people for their coexistence in society.

Diner Alo Hijra Sangha (DAHS), a non-government development organization working for the welfare of the excluded people, hosted the meeting with media under the project titled "Women's Voice and Leadership Bangladesh" Thursday at Chef Garden Restaurant in Rajshahi city.

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.

Project Coordinator Mousumi Khatun gave a salient feature of the project along with its aims, objectives and implementation strategy during her concept paper presentation in the meeting.

She said the project is being implemented in association with Manusher Jonno Foundation and Global Affairs Canada for improving living and livelihood condition of 1,200 transgender people.

DAHS Adviser Shaheen Akhter Rainy addressed the meeting as chief guest, while its President Mohona was in the chair. Editor of Daily Sonar Desh Akbarul Hassan Millat and business leaders Sekendar Ali and business leader Shyamal Kumar Ghosh also spoke.

Shaheen Akhter Rainy 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 rights of health, education, social and legal of the transgender people is very important for improving their living and livelihood condition.

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.