Five trans-genders collected forms from Awami League for reserved seats in the 11th national parliament. When a question was raised if they can be nominated for reserved seats, they remarked, “We lead lives as transformed women and therefore, have rights.”
Election Commission, EC, has said that transgender women registered in the voters’ list will be able to avail of this chance.
EC Additional Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman told Bangla Tribune, “If trans-genders have been registered as women then there is no legal bar preventing them from competing for the reserve seats.”
The EC took the decision to register trans-genders last July but the work hasn’t begun as yet.
At that time, EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed, said, “When new voter list is updated, trans-genders will be registered as third gender.”
However, the voter list has not been updated as yet and the corrections in the voter registration form to recognize transgender people as the ‘third gender’ has not been done.
Members of the transgender community say that they want to work for the whole community, stressing on the need to work for the neglected sections of society.
Nomination aspirant Nadira previously took part in city corporation election.
She says, “This is the first time five of us have bought nomination papers and, if selected, then will work for the deprived in our community.”
We take the PM as our mother since she gave us recognition in 2013.
Another nomination seeker Mayuri says, “Members of our community are harassed and often deprived of basic rights like education.”
If selected, my priority is education, she added.