New NIDs to recognise \\\'hijras\\\'

Hijras or transgenders in Bangladesh will now be able to exercise their franchise. They are free to identify themselves as males, females or hermaphrodites in their national identity cards (NID). The Election Commission (EC) is amending the NID registration rules after the government recognised the third sex last November. Election Commissioner Md Sirajul Islam has said the ‘hijra (hermaphrodite) category’ has been included in the NID alongside the usual male and female slots. ‘We have amended the rules and sent them to the law ministry,’ he said. According to an official data, the ‘hijra’ population in Bangladesh is now around 10,000, according to bdnews24.com.