Breaking the glass ceiling, Tashnuva Anan Shishir, a member of the transgender community of Bangladesh, has begun her journey as the first transgender news presenter in the country.
She presented a regular news bulletin on Boishkahi TV at noon on Monday (March 8). Shishir will be seen presenting news bulletin in a regular basis from the day.
The private satellite television channel created an opportunity for transgender people for the first time in the country. They appointed Shishir as newscaster just before the International Women’s Day-2021 and the appointment has been effective on the day.
Greetings and good wishes poured in under the recorded version of her first news presentation on YouTube as people hailed her and the TV channel for the step. People said that the achievement of Shishir is a remarkable milestone both in her life and in the history of Bangladesh, as she is the first transgender woman to have gotten the role.
In her reaction, Shishir said that she and her community are happy. She feels proud as she can break the glass ceiling.
Tashnuva Anan Shishir was born as a boy in a remote village in Bagerhat. In the childhood, the boy started realising that his biological existence stood in conflict with his soul. At that time, his classmates of primary school, teachers and neighbours would tease him, calling him a ‘Hijra’.
Shishir began her acting career in 2007 as a model with the theatre troupe ‘Natua’ and was a part of the theatre troupe BotTola for more than two years. She has also signed up for two movies and will play the role of a female football coach in one of the movies.
Meanwhile, another transgender woman Nusrat Jahan Mou has also made history, having played a key role in a television drama titled ‘Chapabaz’. The drama was scheduled to be broadcast on Boishakhi TV on March 8 night.
Nusrat Mou joined the entertainment department of Boishakhi Television. She will be seen as a main female character in the drama serial that will be aired at the same time on Saturday, Sunday and Monday every week.
In her reaction, Nusrat Mou said, “I am grateful to Boishakhi TV. With this type of positive approach for individuals like me, I believe that our society will thrive towards community sustainability and community development.”
