Bangladesh | Dangers for the third gender

Anyone stuck in a traffic jam on the streets of Dhaka or other major cities in Bangladesh will repeatedly encounter this scene: People with male bodies and wearing female clothing approach the parked cars, hold out their hands, and ask for money. Not all, but some female drivers hand over a few coins or bills. Then the beggars thank them and move on to the next car.

These people, who in Western societies would be called trans women, call themselves Hijra. According to official estimates, there are 11,000 of them in Bangladesh. "I come from the greater Dhaka area," says 29-year-old Tania, who earns her living daily in traffic jams. "Like many of us, I live with five other Hijras in a shared apartment." Everything is shared there. "We live hand to mouth, everything from the streets. We're used to getting by on very little."

Anyone who comes out as a hijra—that is, someone who identifies as female despite having male physical characteristics—is still often rejected by their families. Hijra are often excluded from the regular job market—if only because of their physical appearance. As a result, they generally live in poverty. Nevertheless, the hijra have a long history in Bangladesh, a South Asian country with 175 million inhabitants, and one that is far from just about living in exhaust fumes and unemployment. But also about pride.

Legal recognition

"Everyone in this country knows they exist," says Jusuf Saadat in a modern office in the capital, Dhaka, where the street noise from outside penetrates. "They are discriminated against, but they have nevertheless had their special place in society for ages." Saadat, a researcher at the independent think tank Centre for Policy Dialogue, emphasizes the respect the hijra enjoy: "They are known for their strong bond as a group, even taking in children who are left without care."

Thus, the people of Bangladesh feel a "kind of leniency" for this marginalized group, emphasizes Jusuf Saadat, smiling: "We don't see their income as begging either. Everyone in Bangladesh knows that their identity would prevent them from finding other jobs. That's why we give them money." In a country where around 90 percent of people identify as Muslims, a religion that, like Christianity, has little regard for queer identities, this is surprising.

But what sounds even more astonishing: The Hijra are not only tolerated, but even officially recognized as a separate gender. In 2014, a new law confirmed that Bangladesh no longer only had the gender categories of male and female, but also recognized the Hijra as a third gender. "After decades of gradual improvements for the Hijra, this was truly a giant step," recalls Saadat.

Queer identities are taboo

Since then, Bangladesh has been significantly ahead of most Western countries in terms of gender policy. People like Tania can now obtain identity cards – no longer as a man, but as a hijra. "One day, the hope is that this recognition will also lead to integration into the regular labor market," explains Jusuf Saadat. He cautions, however, that rules are one thing, "norms and culture take time."

The special nature of the formal recognition of the Hijra is demonstrated by the way other queer groups are treated in society. Jusuf Saadat searches for a moment for words so as not to express himself too harshly: "If someone in Bangladesh says they are gay, lesbian, or homosexual, it is not considered acceptable at all. It is an absolute taboo here." It is even illegal. "Even in religion, in Islam, it is forbidden." Only the Hijra enjoy more acceptance, he says: "Because we feel that their identity is innate." This is not the case with homosexuality.

Since legal recognition, Tania has felt more secure and, at least in principle, recognized: "We are law-abiding citizens of this country; we obey the laws in Bangladesh. And if we do something wrong, we are open to criticism," she says, like someone who can never speak for herself, but always stands up for her group. "That's why it's so important that this law gives us an identity! No one can just lock us away or anything."

Overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

However, Tania says all this on condition of anonymity. Her real name is different. Because she no longer feels as safe as she did a few months ago. Bangladesh is currently going through turbulent times. In August of last year, student protests caused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had ruled the country like a dictator for over 15 years, to flee the country.

The secular but brutal prime minister was already responsible for the deaths of 1,400 protesters at this point. Tania's friends were among them. After Hasina's escape, the military commissioned Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus to form a transitional government. However, the country is hardly ready for new elections. This is partly due to the fact that Islamist forces are now on the rise in what is normally a moderate Muslim country.

Even on the days of the coup, Tania not only felt joy about her new freedom, but also feared what would come next. "During the unrest, a police officer stormed into our apartment, shouted at us, threatened us, and demanded our money." They didn't have much, but they still gave him everything. "I'll probably never forget that." And now? "We have to be careful of the Islamists; unfortunately, they don't like people like us. They see us as a problem."

"If someone in Bangladesh says they are gay or lesbian or homosexual, it's not considered acceptable at all. It's an absolute taboo here."

Yusuf Saadat Center for Policy Dialogue

The Jamaat-e-Islami party, an Islamist group that was consistently kept out of power under Sheikh Hasina's leadership, is now popular in the country, partly due to its long opposition stance. This is observed by Julfikar Ali Manik, a well-known liberal journalist in the country who has repeatedly reported on religious extremism and the position of the hijra for the newspaper "Daily Star," among others.

"From my work experience, I can say that the extremists here in Bangladesh, whatever their name, are inspired by groups like al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and the Islamic State," says Manik, who had to go underground after the coup. "I interviewed some of these extremists myself years ago, and they told me: Yes, we want a Taliban-like system in Bangladesh." And everyone knows what that would mean.

Increasing influence of Islamists

Julfikar Ali Manik has been observing a creeping Islamization in the country for some time, even without Islamist parties forming a government: "For example, I describe my identity as Bengali. That can be Muslim, Christian, or Buddhist. I understand my identity as ethnic, not religious." But the Islamists? "They say: 'No, you're a Muslim.'"

For example, followers of Jamaat-e-Islami often admonished women not to decorate their faces according to Hindu customs, but to wear a burqa instead. And boys should not wear shorts or have beards. "It's these little things that they try to force on society over time. And out of fear, many people adhere to them." Or they went underground, like Julfikar Ali Manik.

Islamist groups are certainly not always peaceful. At the beginning of the year, they caused a stir when they stormed women's soccer matches and forced them to be abandoned. Several similar incidents have occurred recently. The message: conservative gender roles must be strictly adhered to. For the hijra—the third gender—this is a threat.

Change comes at the expense of minorities

Leo Wigger, Fellow for EU and South Asia Relations at the Mercator College for International Affairs and an expert on Bangladesh, sees the hijra as the biggest losers in this upheaval, which was supposed to mean more freedom for everyone: "In this post-revolutionary struggle for influence , some of the parties that are more likely to abuse state institutions are now gaining strength." This is particularly true at the expense of minorities: "The situation has deteriorated massively for the long-established transgender communities. When you talk to activists, the fear is very great."

It is not yet known when new elections will take place in Bangladesh. However, many in the country assume that Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islamit will be among the favorites. For the Hijra, who are traditionally considered lucky charms for newborns and are invited to ceremonies after birth, the situation would likely become even more tense.

Perhaps they would even be stripped of their third gender status. Tania, in any case, hardly ever goes out on the streets to ask for money anymore. She hides and is often hungry: "I'm in a safe place, with my friends. We're being cautious for now."