UNB, Dhaka :
Though the government has recognised the transgender or hijra community as the third gender over two and a half years back, the Election Commission is yet to enroll them as voters and provide them with
NID cards with their distinct sexual identity. Currently, the hijra community members have to be enlisted as either male or female since there is no option given in the voter registration form or in the NID (National Identity) card to write third gender as their sex, discouraging many of them to be voters.
According to the latest voter list published on January 31, 2016, the number of the country’s total voters is 9,98,98,553, including 5,03,20,362 men and 4,95,78191 women. But no statistics regarding hijra or third gender was shown in the updated list.
Though the government has recognised the transgender or hijra community as the third gender over two and a half years back, the Election Commission is yet to enroll them as voters and provide them with
NID cards with their distinct sexual identity. Currently, the hijra community members have to be enlisted as either male or female since there is no option given in the voter registration form or in the NID (National Identity) card to write third gender as their sex, discouraging many of them to be voters.
According to the latest voter list published on January 31, 2016, the number of the country’s total voters is 9,98,98,553, including 5,03,20,362 men and 4,95,78191 women. But no statistics regarding hijra or third gender was shown in the updated list.
