The Chittagong city mayor, Manjur Alam, opens the first ever conference of trans-gender people of the country in the Chittagong city on Wednesday. — New Age photo

The Chittagong City Corporation will give birth-certificate and health card to the trans-gender people and set up a night school and garment factory for them.
The city mayor, Manjur Alam, on Wednesday announced this while addressing as chief guest the first ever conference of trans-gender people in the country.
He said the garment factory would be set up in a building owned by the corporation with cooperation from non-government organisations.
A total of two hundred trans-gender people took part in the conference jointly organised by Chittagong City Corporation, Nongor Samaj Unnayan Sangstha and Bandhu Social Welfare Society at Theatre Institute auditorium in the city.
Ward councillor Niaz Mohammad Khan, chief executive officer of the corporation Anwara Begum, CCC secretary Samsuddoha, director of Manusher Jonno Foundation Rina Roy, among others, addressed the conference as special guests.
With ward councillor and CCC social welfare standing committee chairman Hasan Murad in the chair, the conference was also addressed by Falguni Hijra, Kajal Hijra, Shanu Hijra, Nasu Hijra and Jharna Hijra.
Payel Hijra, president of Karnaphuli Hijra Sangha, an independent organisation presented the keynote paper on the life, rights and different problems faced by the Hijra community in the country.
Payel said human rights for marginal people remain elusive in a country like Bangladesh. The trans-gender people are deprived of legal support from the state.
Concerted efforts from the government and non-governmental organisations are essential for the uplift of these marginalised people.
‘For ages, the Hijra people are living in a subhuman condition and deprived of their rights and facilities,’ said Payel.  
‘The families do not accept the trans-gender persons; they do not take care of such people like other children. Even, we cannot rent house, we are denied job and eventually we fall victim to incurable diseases due to squalid living condition. Some of us become sex workers for living,’ added Payel.
The mayor, Manjur Alam, assured them of extending all-out support from the CCC including birth certificate, health card which will entitle them to medical facilities free of cost.
He also thanked the government for allocating Tk 15 crore for the first time in the national budget for the marginalised people.
The mayor urged the government to allocate more for the Hijra people for the uplift of their life.
Manjur also said the corporation had already taken an initiative for four public toilets to be maintained by the trans-gender persons.