Bangladesh has built the first mosque for transgender people in Mymensingh, north of Dhaka. Known as the Dakshin Char Kalibari Masjid, this establishment signifies a momentous occasion for the local transgender community, providing them with a dedicated place of worship.
The initiative emerged following the expulsion of transgender individuals from a local Islamic assembly. In response, the Bangladeshi government generously allocated land for the mosque, while the community rallied together to fund its construction through collective donations. Noteworthy is the inclusion of a graveyard within the mosque premises, addressing the previous refusal of local cemeteries to bury transgender individuals.
Imam Abdul Motaleb, aged 65, emphasized the inconsistency between the persecution faced by transgender individuals and Islamic teachings, asserting, “They are like any other people created by Allah.” He underscored the universality of humanity, affirming that all individuals, irrespective of gender identity, possess the right to pray as decreed by Allah in the Holy Quran.
Despite its modest single-room structure, the mosque stands as a pioneering institution in Bangladesh, offering transgender individuals a sanctuary for prayer free from inhibition. Mufti Abdur Rahman Azad, who oversees a charity catering to the transgender community, highlighted the mosque’s significance as the first of its kind in the nation.
While Bangladesh officially recognized the third gender in 2013, transgender individuals continue to confront societal hurdles. They encounter limitations in property ownership and marriage rights, face discrimination in employment, and are disproportionately victims of violence and poverty. Furthermore, extremist factions actively oppose the integration of the third gender into educational materials.
