A handicrafts and karushilpa showroom to be conducted by people of third gender has been opened here for the first time aimed at mainstreaming the third gender people through transforming them into income-generators.
Uttaran Foundation initiated the venture enriched with varieties of handicrafts, embroidery, stitching, handprint, bed sheet, nakshi katha and other male and female wears.
Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation and Presidium Member of Bangladesh Awami League AHM Khairuzzaman Liton inaugurated the showroom at Mollapara area this afternoon as chief guest.
Additional Inspector General of Police and Head of Tourist Police Habibur Rahman, Deputy Inspector General of Police Abdul Baten and Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Abu Kalam Siddique were also present there.
Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Liton viewed that proactive and sensible role of all quarters has become crucial to ensure the legitimate rights of the third gender people as they are the integral parts of the society.
Ensuring the rights of health, education, social and legal of the transgender people is very important for improving their living and livelihood condition.
The society, as a whole and the journalists in particular, should come forward with a positive attitude towards the extremely socially excluded people for their coexistence in society.
Liton pointed out that the members of the community are always subjected to negligence and repression in every sphere of life including family and society. The Hijra community is deprived of several rights, he added.
He also said the present government, particularly Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is very much positive towards solving the existing problems of the Hijra community.
The public in general have a very narrow mindset regarding genderless people and they should change their mentality.
Being rejected by families, many grew up hating their bodies, and fall victim to depression, drug addiction, violence and suicide, he added. Around 2.5 percent people of the total population were genderless, he said, adding that time has come to ensure their basic rights.
Liton, however, said the venture will contribute a lot towards protecting them from deprivation and oppression.
