By becoming a candidate in the municipality polls, 48-year-old Dithi has marked the beginning of a new era in Bangladesh.
Dithi, a member of the community of Hijras, a term widely used to mainly refer to intersex persons, is running for the post of a reserved female ward councillor in Kolaroa Municipality of the southwestern district of Satkhira.
Thus she becomes the first person of such gender identity in Bangladesh to contest an election.
There have been similar instances in India and Pakistan in recent years. In January, Madhu Bai Kinnar, a transgender person and a member of the Dalit caste, was elected mayor of Raigarh in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. In 2013, Bindiya Rana, a transgender person, contested in a provincial assembly seat in Pakistan.
While talking to the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday, Dithi said by participating in the elections, she wants to remove the social discrimination against her gender, who are still far from being mainstreamed in the society.
“You have to keep in mind that no one will give you your rights, you will have to achieve them. I became a candidate in order to ensure our rights. If I win, I will try my best to ensure the rights of transgender people. I will always be by the side of the poor and the deprived,” she said.
Dithi has three brothers, who now live in Jessore, another southwestern district and do not have regular contact with her. She inherited some property when her father died but gave most of what she had to her brothers.
Asked how she is covering her campaign expenditures, Dithi said: “The people of my ward love me and they encouraged me to take part in the election. I am carrying the expenses from the income generated from my business and household earnings.”
Dithi’s candidature affidavit says her profession is “homemaker/business” and that she is self-educated.
What usually happens when a person is identified as Hijra in Bangladesh is that they have to leave home because of social taboo. They have to go and live with the Hijra community. Asked if that has happened with her, Dithi said: “No. I never left home. Instead, I built two houses in Kolaroa and my houses are open for all. I provide shelter for the homeless and destitute in my house.”
Dithi, who lives in the local Hijra Para, is known as “Guru Ma,” the teacher and mother, and involved with Awami League’s politics.
Sheikh Aktaruzzaman, a wood trader in Kolaroa, said Dithi is a good soul who always helps the poor.
“She has her own warehouse business. She may be a Hijra, but local people know her as a kind woman. She has made donations in many social activities.”
Foisul Ahsan, whose organistion Bandhu Social Welfare Society works with Hijras, said: “This is a great achievement. Dithi’s participation will encourage other transgender people to become competent citizens.”
Election Commission Secretary Sirazul Islam said this is a great news for the cause of a fully inclusive elections.
“People are becoming conscious about transgender people. They are being mainstreamed. People talk about inclusive and universal election and this sort of participation is a big achievement for the commission,” the secretary said.
Official statistics shows that at least 10,000 Hijras live in Bangladesh now, but rights groups claim the number can be up to 10 times higher.
Hijras in Bangladesh have the right to vote since 2009. In November 2013, the government recognised Hijras as a third gender.