A Step towards Change: Spending a Day in a Transgender Community

Among all other minority groups, the transgender community is one of the most ignored and neglected in Bangladesh. The well-known organization in Chattogram called Better Future Bangladesh organized an event on 31st August, 2018 at Tiger Pass in Ambagan, Chattogram. I spent an amazing day with some beautiful souls in the transgender community along with volunteers from AUW. I have never had an opportunity to be close to them before, let alone talk with them because of some stereotypical beliefs and negative assumptions. Through this event, the more we talked with them, the more I felt spellbound to hear their stories. Through the way they shared their stories, I also felt regretful that their physical appearance has made them separate from the majority group. I found that they were incredibly talented and genius in both academic and extra-curricular activities during their childhood. In spite of being some of the most talented students, they dropped out of school because of physical assault and humiliation from the majority group. I think that if we were to be more understanding as a society and promote tolerance, their talents would be able to shine through.

As a campus ambassador, it was a totally new experience for me to talk with transgender people and I came to know about the bitter truth about life in the transgender community. That is why, if we can open the door for transgender people to contribute equally in our society, they can also serve the nation as proud citizens of Bangladesh as well as contribute in making our country a better place.

Mehejabin Tuba

Campus Ambassador

Better Future Bangladesh