Integrated efforts for transgender social integration stressed

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 consultation meeting regarding transgender Issues held at In-service Training Centre (ITC) of Bangladesh Police in Rajshahi city on Saturday.

Bandhu Social Welfare Centre (BSWC) organized the meeting in association with the Human Rights and Justice Programme of UNDP.

Additional DIG of Police of Rajshahi Range Muzahedul Islam addressed the meeting as chief guest with ITC Commandant Tarequl Islam in the chair. BSWC Capacity Development Manager Mejbah Uddin Ahmed, President of Diner Alo Hijra Sangha Mohona Moin, Joyeeeta Poly Khatun also spoke.

The chief guest said the present government has been implementing diversified programmes for mainstreaming the transgender people and Bangladesh Police has been involved in the development process.

He told the meeting that police have been working for ensuring fundamental rights especially the health, social and legal of the socially excluded people and the field level policemen were given instruction to this end.

In his remarks, Mejbah Uddin Ahmed said the society, as a whole and the police in particular, should come forward with a positive attitude toward the people for their coexistence in society.

He 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 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, he said, adding that time has come to ensure their basic rights.