Bandhu Social Welfare Society has handed over sewing machines among 15 members of the transgender community from across the country to ensure income generation for their families.
The awardees were selected from Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sirajganj and Rajshahi areas, said a statement on Thursday.
On Thursday, 15 sewing machines were distributed among them at an event at its Kakrail office. Bandhu Executive Director Shale Ahmed and noted beautician Giti Billah were present among others.
Earlier, Bandhu arranged training for the transgender persons, one of the most underprivileged communities of the country widely known as Hijra, with a view to create employment and promote empowerment.
The initiative is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to Bandhu, a number of transgender members are currently employed in media organizations, hotels and private universities as security guards, in NGOs at different posts, the service sector including health, beauty and food, as well as in the leather and garments sectors.
Experts say increasing the capacity of the transgender people through education and training, and creating job opportunities may help reduce discrimination and violence against them.
On the other hand, such steps by the government as well as development organizations and volunteers would also put an end to the unpopular trend of Hijras realising money from people at households, shops, streets and public transports across the country.
Bangladesh recognises the transgender community as third gender and issues national identity cards to them.
The government also encourages organisations by exempting 5% corporate tax for the employers hiring 100 transgender and hijra workers as a process to empower them, he said. On the other hand, the employees would get 10% tax rebate.
In the next census, a new gender category – “hijra” – would be included apart from male and female, according to government officials.