Dhaka Tribune was honoured by the Bandhu Social Welfare Society for its contribution towards the advancement and development of members of the transgender community.
Dhaka Tribune received the award in the category of “Media and Communication” on May 26 at a program held at the Spectra Convention Centre in Gulshan. The program also honoured MP Mirza Alam and writer Selina Hossain among others in different categories for their contributions to the same issue.
Bandhu is an organization that works towards ensuring a dignified life for gender-based minorities through protection of human rights, quality of health, including sexual and reproductive health, as well as ensuring access to societal security and justice.
Kazi Riazul Haq, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) attended the program as the chief guest. He said: “Every citizen has the right to receive equal treatment by the law and society. There is no proper record or data on the transgender community. We need to integrate them into mainstream society.
“We know that a lot of the times, hijras harass people on the streets or in front of their houses. Their behaviour might seem crass, but it is our fault that they are marginalized and ignored. This needs to change.”
He said, progress cannot happen in society without integrating hijras into mainstream communities as respectable and respected citizens. “No one should be left behind,” he said.
Journalist Ibrahim Hossain Ovi received the award on behalf of Dhaka Tribune. In his speech, he said: “In the past two years, Dhaka Tribune has published the highest number of articles related to the transgender community. The organization believes in equality, hence a proper and positive portrayal of the hijras is very important to us.
“Most people think very negatively about hijras. We need to change that mindset. We hope in the future, the members of the transgender community will receive equal rights as citizens and as a society, it is our duty to ensure their rights.”
