RAJSHAHI, July 17, 2019 (BSS)- Some 556 transgender people were given
allowance worth around Taka 3.34 lakh in all eight districts under Rajshahi
division in last 2018-19 fiscal year.
Department of Social Services (DSS) disbursed the allowance aims at
improving their living and livelihood condition side by side with
mainstreaming them.
Mozammel Haque, Member of National Social Welfare Council and Retired
Deputy Director of DSS, revealed this while presiding over a meeting related
to welfare of the transgender people here yesterday.
Diner Alo Hijra Sangha (DAHS), a non-government body working for welfare of
the socially excluded population, organized the meeting with members of its
advisory and executive committees at SK Food Restaurant discussing and
devising ways and means of how to attain the cherished goal.
Shaheen Akhter Rainy, Vice-president of Rajshahi city unit of Bangladesh
Awami League and adviser of DAHS, who addressed the meeting as chief guest,
said concerted efforts of all government and non-government entities
concerned can be the vital means of mainstreaming the transgender population
through their proper rehabilitation.
“Transgender people are the by-born citizens of the country so their
legitimate rights must be protected with collective efforts. The mainstreamed
society should take the responsibility of freeing them from their long-
lasting curse of toll collection,” she added.
Editor of Daily Sonar Desh Akbrul Hassan Millat, General Secretary of
Businessmen Coordination Council Sekendar Ali, Director of Barendra Unnayan
Prochesta Foyzullah Chowdhury, DAHS President Mohona and its General
Secretary Sagarika Khan also spoke. DAHS Adviser Mozammel Haque presided over
the meeting.
Shaheen Akhter says the present government has given recognition to the
transgender population as third gender community side by side with ensuring
the voting rights to them. With this breakthrough, the population can avail
all the public sector legal privileges, she added.
She said the present government is very much positive towards solving all
the existing problems of the Hijra community. She urged the advantaged people
to change their attitude toward the transgender people and demanded quota for
them in education and job sectors.