The government gave the land donated by the state’s woman community after they were removed from an established community to build the dome close to Mymensingh, northeast of the capital Dhaka, on the banks of the Brahmaputra river.
“I never dreamt I was worshipped at a mosque once in my lifetime,” said Sonia, 42, who as a child loved to read the Quran and studied at an Islamic school.
However, she was prohibited from praying in a dome when she emerged as a woman, or as transgender females are known in South Asia.
In Bangladesh’s second dome for the next sex, members of the trans community and local residents perform Friday prayers during Ramadan, Islam’s holy month of fasting. Photo: Agency
“People may tell us: ‘Why are you transgender people here at the temples? You may pray at home. Don’t come to the mosques,'” Sonia, who uses only one name, said.
“It was shameful for us, so we didn’t go,” she added. “Today, this is our dome. Today, no one can say no.”
Since 2013, which has actually allowed members of the community to determine as a second gender, Hijra have been the beneficiaries of growing legitimate recognition in Bangladesh.
One transgender person was elected mayor of a remote town in Bangladesh in 2021, joining other candidates for political office.
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Despite lacking house and relationship rights, the hijra still struggle for basic acceptance and recognition.
They face a lot more violence and poverty than the typical Bangladeshi, and they are frequently discriminated against in jobs.
In addition, radical Islamist organizations have protested against the inclusion of transgender Bangladeshis in school textbooks and organized demonstrations to demand that the government stop pushing for their inclusion in the curriculum.
Mufti Abdur Rahman Azad, leader of a women’s charity, said the fresh shrine was the first of its kind in the nation.
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He continued, adding that a similar project that was planned in another town was postponed last month as a result of a rally by locals.
The Third Gender’s Dakshin Char Kalibari Masjid, which opened this month, was the result of a generous donation from nearby woman girls.
After a local Muslim cemetery next time refused to destroy a young hajj woman inside its grounds, it also has a cemetery.
The temple’s imam, Abdul Motaleb, 65, said that the oppression of the woman community was against the lessons of his belief.
“They are like any other persons created by Allah,” the priest said.
“We all are human beings. Even some are gentlemen, some are ladies, but all are people. Everyone has the proper to pray, and no one can be denied because Allah revealed the Holy Quran to anyone.
Motaleb claimed that other Bangladeshis may take lessons from the convictions and tenacity of the woman.
“Since I have been here at this dome, I have been impressed by their personality and activities,” he said.
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The new shrine is now tackling prejudice. Tofazzal Hossain, a 53-year-old native resident, has been praying there for the second week in a row.
He said life and praying with the woman society has changed his “misconceptions” about them.
“When they started to live with us, some folks said some points,” he said.
“But we’ve realized what people say isn’t right. They live justly like other Muslims.”
Tonu hopes to make the small shrine bigger enough to accommodate more people.
“God willing, we will do it very quickly,” she said.
“Hundreds of people can give prayers up.”
