People once referred to them in softer tones as the third gender. Subsequently, the government recognized them as Hijra, a traditional term prevalent in this subcontinent. In recent years, controversy has repeatedly been created due to the misinterpretation of the terms transgender and transsexual.
However, no government has ever tried to settle the issue. Rights activists say that if the governments tried to propagate the correct explanation, controversies would not have been created repeatedly.
The members of the gender diverse community hope that the interim government, which is aiming to reduce all forms of discrimination through reforms, will take effective steps to foster a friendly environment for constructive discussion.
Rights activists claim that the previous government failed to fulfill its promise to provide jobs based on qualifications. At different times, the government wings, NGOs, and other organizations show interest and discuss with the Hijra and transgender people or give them jobs. Even when they get an opportunity, they struggle to survive in an atmosphere where there is confusion over their identity.
In November 2013, the government recognized the transgender community as a third gender in order to eliminate discrimination and integrate them into the mainstream of society.
On January 26, 2014, the gazette was published with state recognition of Hijras by keeping an option for Hijras in the national identity card form. Then what does the declaration of third gender mean?
The confusion does not end here. According to 2013 guidelines for implementation of the improvement of the quality of life of the Hijra population, the English term for Hijra is transgender.
In July last year, a legal notice was issued to the government to provide a monthly allowance, separate educational institutions, and civic amenities to the marginalized Hijra community in society.
Supreme Court lawyer Mahmudul Hasan sent the notice to the Social Welfare Secretary, Finance Secretary, Education Secretary and Law Secretary, seeking a reply within 30 days.
He said Hijras are the most neglected community in Bangladesh. They are isolated from their families, neglected by society, deprived of educational facilities, and discriminated against by the state.
Marzia Prabha, a women's rights activist, told the Bangla Tribune: "Although we accept the natural gender identity of men and women as normal, we hesitate to have any gender identity outside of it. So, we collectively call any gender identity other than male and female a third gender.
“This simplification means nullifying all separate definitions of gender diversity. By the term third gender, we acknowledge that there is a first and a second gender. There are definitely gender hierarchies. It is surprising that we want to corner so much gender diversity and lump it together as the third gender or transgender. We are ignoring their diversity. By this, we are making them subordinate to men and women.''
Rights activist Jaya Sikder thinks if the misinterpretation is stopped, the debate will stop too. The governments have said different things in different places.
“We raised questions when the government recognized us as the third gender but the project mentioned us as Hijra.
“Someone who was born in a male body and has a feminine feeling in behavior is identified as a Hijra. However, not all of them are Hijras. Hijra is a cultural identity. On the other hand, a transgender person may not mean s/he underwent surgery. It is not even that everyone is transgender in a Hijra community,” she told this reporter.
Jaya Sikder added: “People have little idea about these terms. Society does not discuss gender diversity. We assume that what we know is true. At least 98% of people hold the misconception that Hijra is a natural state, while transgender is a process of gender reassignment. No one is arguing that this notion is entirely incorrect.
“The government's problem is their inability to define gender diverse people. They are reluctant to articulate their solidarity in these terms. The society cannot accept that there will be equality between men and women.”
