Members of the Hijra community will be included as a gender separate from males and females in the upcoming National Census of January 2021.
Mohammad Tajul Islam, director general of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), informed Dhaka Tribune of the measure on Thursday.
“Although they were recognized earlier, the number of their inclusion was very poor. Sometimes parents hide their child’s identity thinking of their social dignity,” he said.
He expressed concern over the inclusion of a major section of the community’s members as most of them were changing their places, hiding out and living separately without families.
“Challenges will be there in finding them as they hesitate to cooperate,” he added.
Additional Secretary Mohammad Tajul also disclosed the matter at a consultation meeting, titled “Inclusion of Hijra/Transgender Community in National Census 2021”, virtually arranged by Bandhu Social Welfare Society and the National Human Rights Commission.
“Necessary arrangements have been completed already. The national census will commence from the beginning of January 2021,” he said.
While speaking as the chief guest at the same conference, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Nasima Begum said: “The Hijra community people should enroll themselves willingly as self-recognition is very important for everyone. For this, family members as well as people from all walks of life should come forward to encourage them.”
She also said that people who will record census data should be trained well on this issue.
Since 2018, with support from the NHRC, Bandhu Social Welfare Society has been working with BBS to include Hijra people as a separate gender in the National Census.
Among other panelists, Deputy Inspector General of Police Habibur Rahman, Joint Secretary of Law Ministry Umme Kulsum, NHRC’s Director Kazi Arfin Ashik, Executive Director of Bondhu Shale Ahmed, Dhaka University’s Assistant Professor Taslima Yesmin were present.
With the approval of the Statistics Act in 2013, the census in Bangladesh has been renamed Jonoshumari instead of Adamshumari.
Hijra community leader Ivan Ahamed Katha, however, is not happy with the term ‘hijra’; rather the community feels at ease with the definition being third-gender or trans-gender.
While talking to this correspondent, Katha said separate recognition would be good for the community since its basic rights could be ensured like those of others. Besides, the actual number of the members of the community would be ascertained.
“The gender should not be named as ‘hijra’ since people are afraid of this name and many people of our community do not prefer to call themselves hijra. Third-gender or trans-gender is preferable,” said Katha, who is also the president of Sachetan Somajseba Songo (Conscious Social-service Union).
