Narayanganj transgender cast vote under gender identity of their choice
Bangladesh officially recognized transgender as a separate gender or the third sex in 2013
Ratna, one of the transgender voters in NCC polls, shows their thumb after casting vote on Sunday, January 16, 2021 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
Shamima Rita
Publish : 16 Jan 2022, 01:06 PMUpdate : 17 Jan 2022, 12:45 AM
Along with thousands of male and female voters, members of the transgender community also cast their votes in the Narayanganj City Corporation polls.
Muskan, one of the four registered transgender voters in the city, was jubilant after casting vote for the first time at Shishubagh School centre on Sunday morning.
Muskan said: "This is the first vote of my life. Now I can call myself a citizen of this country.”
Hailing from Narayangaj’s Deobhog, Muskan said she wants Selina Hayat Ivy, ruling party Awami League nominated candidate, to win the race to become mayor of the industrial hub for the third time in a row.
“Ivy has done a lot for us and the city. I hope my vote wins her the polls,” Muskan added.
Payal, who became a voter in 2016, was happy to cast her vote in the city corporation polls.
“I've voted before. I am delighted to be able to choose the mayor of my city.”
Another two transgender voters, Sandhya and Rubina exercised their franchise at Mizmiji Pineadi Rekmat Ali High School polling centre in Siddhirganj.
Another transgender, Ratna also expressed their satisfaction at the polling atmosphere at Morgan School and College centre in the city.
Although there are only four registered voters in the city, many other transgenders also cast their ballots under the identity of male or female, which has been a common practice in the country.
Transgender in Bangladesh have the right to vote since 2009. In November 2013, the government recognized transgender as a third gender.
In recent Union Parishad (UP) polls, Nazrul Islam Ritu became the first transgender UP chairman in the country while two others became members.
The NCC polls voting started at 8am in 192 polling centres in 27 wards of the city and will continue till 4pm without a break.
This is the first election in the country that is being held exclusively on electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The election is taking place amid the pandemic but adhering to the health safety guidelines issued by the government to prevent a further surge in Covid-19 cases.
The constituency has a total of 517,362 registered voters – 259,846 men, 257,511 women and four people from third gender communities who will exercise their voting rights at 1333 polling booths in 192 centres.
Narayanganj transgender cast vote under gender identity of their choice
Bangladesh officially recognized transgender as a separate gender or the third sex in 2013
Along with thousands of male and female voters, members of the transgender community also cast their votes in the Narayanganj City Corporation polls.
Muskan, one of the four registered transgender voters in the city, was jubilant after casting vote for the first time at Shishubagh School centre on Sunday morning.
Muskan said: "This is the first vote of my life. Now I can call myself a citizen of this country.”
Hailing from Narayangaj’s Deobhog, Muskan said she wants Selina Hayat Ivy, ruling party Awami League nominated candidate, to win the race to become mayor of the industrial hub for the third time in a row.
“Ivy has done a lot for us and the city. I hope my vote wins her the polls,” Muskan added.
Payal, who became a voter in 2016, was happy to cast her vote in the city corporation polls.
“I've voted before. I am delighted to be able to choose the mayor of my city.”
Another two transgender voters, Sandhya and Rubina exercised their franchise at Mizmiji Pineadi Rekmat Ali High School polling centre in Siddhirganj.
Another transgender, Ratna also expressed their satisfaction at the polling atmosphere at Morgan School and College centre in the city.
Although there are only four registered voters in the city, many other transgenders also cast their ballots under the identity of male or female, which has been a common practice in the country.
Transgender in Bangladesh have the right to vote since 2009. In November 2013, the government recognized transgender as a third gender.
In recent Union Parishad (UP) polls, Nazrul Islam Ritu became the first transgender UP chairman in the country while two others became members.
The NCC polls voting started at 8am in 192 polling centres in 27 wards of the city and will continue till 4pm without a break.
This is the first election in the country that is being held exclusively on electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The election is taking place amid the pandemic but adhering to the health safety guidelines issued by the government to prevent a further surge in Covid-19 cases.
The constituency has a total of 517,362 registered voters – 259,846 men, 257,511 women and four people from third gender communities who will exercise their voting rights at 1333 polling booths in 192 centres.