Speakers at an inaugural session of training on “Rights to Information (RTI) Act as a Tool to Promote Rights of Transgender and Hijra Community” on Sunday urged to make a comprehensive law to protect and promote the rights of the people belonging to the third gender.

It is the duty of the government to protect and defend the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people, including gender-diversified citizens, by laws and practices, they said.

ARTICLE 19 South Asia is hosting the there-day training.

 Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Chairman of Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission inaugurated the training session.

Discussants included Cor Stouten, First Secretary, Political Affairs, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka, Bangladesh, David Diaz-Jogeix, International Senior Director of Programmes, ARTICLE 19, Advocate Ruhi Naz, Assistant Director (RTI), Research Initiatives Bangladesh (RIB), Ho Chi Minh Islam, Goodwill Ambassador for Transgender Rights, No Passport Voice while Faruq Faisel, Regional Director for ARTICLE 19 South Asia moderated the inaugural session.

Moriom Shelly, senior programme officer at ARTICLE 19 highlighted the organisation’s activities to protect and promote the rights of the transgender and hijra community. 

Thirty people of transgender and hijra communities from 30 Community-Based Organizations (CBO) working to promote and protect the rights of the third gender people across the country are attending the training. 

They will be provided three days of intensive training to sensitize and inform them about the processes involved in accessing information from authorities.

The trainees will take the acquired knowledge to local people and the community to ensure increased demand for information by making further use of the RTI Act 2009.

Kamal Uddin said there is a lot of scope to work for the rights of transgender and hijra community people.

“Bangladesh’s constitution guarantees equal rights for all.  NHRCB has a dedicated committee titled ‘Committee on Dalit, Hijra, Religious, Ethnic, Non-citizen and other excluded minorities’ rights’ for the protection and promotion of the rights of transgender and hijra community. NHRCB will advocate with the government for the fullest attainment of their rights.” 

Cor Stouten said Bangladesh government has recognised transgender and hijra communities in national identity cards and passports. “Bangladesh is ahead of most countries in the world in this regard. It is very commendable.”