By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The GenerationThe GenerationThe Generation
  • USA
    USA
    Show More
    Top News
    Dad charged with murder after 10-year-old son dies in rollover crash, TX officials say
    September 4, 2023
    Claudia Goldin wins 2023 Nobel economics prize
    October 11, 2023
    Marijuana Smoke May be Harmful to Health, Can Affect Your Heart
    November 2, 2023
    Latest News
    Jenifer Rajkumar: A New Name for Representation and Reform
    June 19, 2025
    Trump Organization Launches “Trump Mobile” with U.S.-Made Phone and $47.45 Plan
    June 16, 2025
    Happy 250th Birthday, US Army
    June 15, 2025
    COVID-19 Still Claims Lives: The Lingering Danger We Can’t Ignore
    June 15, 2025
  • New York
    New York
    Show More
    Top News
    Bangladeshi Actor achieve international in US
    October 26, 2023
    NY District Cancels Classes After Multiple Fights Break out at Same Time at High School
    November 24, 2023
    Winter Weather Arrives As NYC Migrant Crisis Worsens
    December 20, 2023
    Latest News
    As NYC Mayoral Race Heats Up, Cuomo Slams City’s Climate Preparedness
    June 20, 2025
    Final Push: NYC Mayoral Candidates Cast Early Ballots, Rally Support Ahead of Election Day
    June 20, 2025
    Momentum in Jamaica: Bangladeshi-American Community Rallies Behind Zohran Mamdani in NYC Mayoral Race
    June 19, 2025
    Youth Surge Doubles Early Voting in NYC Mayoral Race
    June 19, 2025
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    Joe Biden Plans To Ban Logging In US Old-growth Forests In 2025
    December 26, 2023
    Donald Trump Ranked As Worst US President In History, With Joe Biden 14th
    February 29, 2024
    Lawmakers Say They Should Analyze Protests Response
    May 31, 2024
    Latest News
    With Bernie Sanders’ Backing, Zohran Mamdani Gains Momentum in NYC Mayoral Race”
    June 18, 2025
    New York City Comptroller Brad Lander Detained by ICE During Immigration Court Visit
    June 17, 2025
    Mamdani Secures Second Cross-Endorsement in Battle to Unseat Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Race
    June 17, 2025
    New York City Mayoral Primary 2025: Latest Polls & Progressive Shift
    June 15, 2025
  • World
    World
    Show More
    Top News
    Arab League slams Israel siege of Gaza, demands aid for Gazans
    October 12, 2023
    Bangladesh hands over humanitarian aid to Palestine
    October 31, 2023
    Hezbollah’s anti-ship missiles bolster its threat to US navy
    November 9, 2023
    Latest News
    Trump’s Meeting With National Security Advisers Ends: White House
    June 18, 2025
    India’s Silence: Why No Condemnation of Israel’s Attack on Iran?
    June 16, 2025
    From Allies to Adversaries: The Rise and Fall of Iran-Israel Relations
    June 15, 2025
    Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Ramesh Biswas Kumar Miraculously Survives the Valley of Death
    June 13, 2025
  • Finance & Business
    Finance & Business
    Show More
    Top News
    How Banks And The Fed Are Preparing For A US Default – And Chaos To Follow
    September 3, 2023
    Corporate Greed is not to Blame for High Inflation, SF Fed Says
    June 16, 2024
    Latest News
    Corporate Greed is not to Blame for High Inflation, SF Fed Says
    June 16, 2024
    How Banks And The Fed Are Preparing For A US Default – And Chaos To Follow
    September 3, 2023
  • EpaperNew
Search
  • About Us
  • Our Awards
  • My Bookmarks
  • Opinion
  • Crime
  • Science & Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Economy
  • Fashion
  • Election
  • Feature
  • Charity
  • Literature
  • Security
  • US & Canada
  • Nature
  • Cooking
Copyright @2023 – All Right Reserved by The Generation.
Reading: Bangladesh Opens Mosque For Transgender Hijra Community
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Font ResizerAa
The GenerationThe Generation
  • USA
  • New York
  • Politics
  • World
  • EpaperNew
Search
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Election
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • US & Canada
  • Finance & Business
  • Charity
  • Cooking
  • Fashion
  • Feature
  • Literature
  • Nature
  • Science & Technology
  • Security
  • Sports
Follow US
  • About Us
  • My Bookmarks
Copyright @2023 – All Right Reserved by The Generation.
World

Bangladesh Opens Mosque For Transgender Hijra Community

Published April 13, 2024
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE


Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Year : 2, Issue : 15

The South Asian nation has, since 2013, officially allowed members of the hijra community to identify as a third gender.

Members of Bangladesh’s transgender hijra community, who were disallowed from attending other prayer services, have been welcomed at a new mosque in the Muslim-majority nation with the promise of worship without discrimination.

The humble structure, a single-room shed with walls and a tin roof, is a new community hub for the minority, who have enjoyed greater legal and political recognition in recent years but still suffer from entrenched prejudice.

The mosque near Mymensingh, north of the capital Dhaka, on the banks of the Brahmaputra river, was built on land donated by the government after the city’s hijra community was expelled from an established congregation.

“I never dreamt I could pray at a mosque again in my lifetime,” said Sonia,

42, who as a child loved to recite the Quran and studied at an Islamic seminary.

But when she came out as hijra, as transgender people in South Asia are commonly known, she was blocked from praying in a mosque.

“People would tell us: ‘Why are you hijra people here at the mosques? You should pray at home. Don’t come to the mosques’,” said Sonia, who uses only one name.

“It was shameful for us, so we didn’t go,” she added. “Now, this is our mosque. Now, no one can say no.” Hijras have received growing legal recognition in Bangladesh, which since 2013 has officially allowed members of the community to identify as a third gender. Several have entered Bangladeshi politics, with one transgender woman elected mayor of a rural town in 2021.

But they still struggle for basic recognition and acceptance and lack property and marriage rights. They are also often discriminated against in employment and are much more likely to be victims of violent crime and poverty than the average Bangladeshi.

Hardline Islamist groups have lashed out at the recognition of transgender Bangladeshis in school textbooks, leading rallies to demand the government abandon its push to include them in the curriculum. Mufti Abdur Rahman Azad, the founder of a hijra charity, said the new mosque was the first of its kind in the country.

A similar endeavour planned in another city was stopped last month after a protest by locals, he added. Dozens of local hijras donated time and money to build the Dakshin Char Kalibari Masjid for the Third Gender, which opened this month.

It also has a graveyard, after a local Muslim cemetery last year refused to bury a community member.

The mosque’s imam, Abdul Motaleb, 65, said the persecution of the hijra community was against the teachings of his faith. “They are like any other people created by Allah,” he said. “We all are human beings. Maybe some are men, some are women, but all are human. Allah revealed the holy Quran for all, so everyone has the right to pray, no one can be denied.”

The new mosque is already tackling prejudice. Local Tofazzal Hossain, 53, has offered Friday prayers there for a second week in a row.

He said living and praying with the hijra community has changed his “misconceptions” about them. They live righteously like other Muslims,” he said.

Source: AFP/Al Jazeera

You Might Also Like

Trump’s Meeting With National Security Advisers Ends: White House

India’s Silence: Why No Condemnation of Israel’s Attack on Iran?

From Allies to Adversaries: The Rise and Fall of Iran-Israel Relations

Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Ramesh Biswas Kumar Miraculously Survives the Valley of Death

Air India Tragedy: 265 Bodies Recovered in Deadly Dreamliner Crash

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Copy Link Print
Previous Article Solar Eclipse Plunges Parts Of Mexico, US Into Darkness
Next Article Former US ambassador gets 15 years jail for spying for Cuba over decades

Stay Connected

1.2kFollowersLike
13kFollowersFollow
1.2kFollowersFollow
1.4kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

As NYC Mayoral Race Heats Up, Cuomo Slams City’s Climate Preparedness
New York June 20, 2025
Final Push: NYC Mayoral Candidates Cast Early Ballots, Rally Support Ahead of Election Day
New York June 20, 2025
Momentum in Jamaica: Bangladeshi-American Community Rallies Behind Zohran Mamdani in NYC Mayoral Race
New York June 19, 2025
Youth Surge Doubles Early Voting in NYC Mayoral Race
New York June 19, 2025
Jenifer Rajkumar: A New Name for Representation and Reform
New York USA June 19, 2025

Quick links

  • About Us
  • Our Awards
  • My Bookmarks

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Editor
Sadia J. Choudhury
Executive Editor
Shah J. Choudhury, Mubin Khan & Salman J. Choudhury
Member of Editor’s Board
Husneara Choudhury, Fauzia J. Choudhury, Santa Islam & DevRaj A. Nath.

A Ruposhi Bangla Entertainment Network

By

Office Address
New York Office:
70-52 Broadway 1A, Jackson Heights, NY-11372, United States.
Contact
Tel: +1 (718) 496-5000
Email: info@thegenerationus.com
newsthegeneration@gmail.com
The GenerationThe Generation
Follow US
Copyright @2023 – All Right Reserved by The Generation.