40 third gender people of Sherpur have moved to their new home expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister. These people, who are a part of the unprivileged community of the country, have expressed their appreciation to the local administration after being able to move into their own homes.
They expressed their happiness to the head of government, local deputy commissioner, upazila administration and to local media while receiving the keys of their new homes on Monday. At this time an emotional atmosphere was created. The third gender people present there asked for cooperation from the locals to live well in the housing project.
Leaving their usual profession of begging and extortion, these people belonging to the third gender community of Sherpur are now dreaming of a normal dignified life. They want to earn a living by taking various trainings including computer skills, sewing and parlor work. The ‘Shopner Thikana’ housing project has been set up with the help of the Prime Minister's Office at the initiative of the local administration, prioritizing their interest in advancing the core manpower.
The keys to the new house have been handed over to 40 people in this housing project. The project has been built on 2 acres of government khas land in Andharia Sutirpar area under Kabirpur mouza of Kamaria union of Sadar upazila.
According to the Sherpur Sadar Upazila administration, the housing project, built on two acres of land at a cost of Tk 69.4 lakh, has a pond on about 40 per cent of the land for income-generating activities of hijras living, open space for vegetables, crops and a multipurpose building Room. Along with Guchhagram there is a large government khas Beel of 8 acres. Each house built in Guchhagram has a kitchen and a hygienic toilet.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner has also made arrangements for the use of pots and pans for the use of the third gender (hijra) community here, 20 beds and bed sheets for accommodation. Nishi Sarkar, president of Sherpur District Hijra Welfare Organization, expressed his gratitude to Deputy Commissioner Anar Kali Mahbub for arranging their accommodation through Guchhgram.
At the same time, they expressed their gratitude to the Janudyog Sherpur Committee for bringing the issues of Hijras before the people. At that time, he said, our accommodation has been confirmed through Guchhgram. Now I am seeking everyone's cooperation for our employment. “We don't want begging, we don't want to make a living by extortion,” he said. We want to live like human beings. I want to work and eat.
Sherpur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Firoz Al Mamun said, "We are happy to complete this work with the help of the Prime Minister's Office and under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner." We want these people of the third sex to live with us and transform into our manpower. Not only land and houses, but also various types of training will be imparted in the cluster village project to make the neglected and marginalized third gender transgender people self-reliant through livelihood and socio-economic development, so that they can be integrated into the mainstream of society.
Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Anar Kali Mahbub said, “These people of the third gender also have the right to live with dignity in our society. They are our relatives.
Prime Minister has instructed us to work sincerely in this regard. We are trying to create employment as well as housing for them. Hopefully I can solve their problems quickly.”
