Journalists vow to uphold rights of Hijras

A pool of journalists today promised to use their pens in upholding the rights of sexual minority groups, who include hijras, in the country, reports BSS. The press people, who went through a three-month fellowship programme up to this month, said the journalists side by side with general people need to be sensitised on the rights of such groups, who are generally denied of their rights as human being in society. "I was completely negative in my mind and heart against the sexual minority groups in Bangladesh before I entered into the media fellowship," said Akhter Shahin, a senior reporter of the daily Jugantor, echoing other journalists at a media award giving ceremony in the city. Bandhu Social Welfare Society (BSWS) in association with UNESCO and UNAID offered nine fellowship to nine print media journalists to reduce the vulnerability of the sexual minority groups and raise social tolerance in order to protect their rights. The fellowships, which were given to journalists of leading media houses, include cash, certificate and crest. Barrister Sara Hossain, who spoke at the concluding ceremony of the fellowship at IDB Bhaban in the city, said both constitution and legacy of colonial rules have been barring the recognition of the sexual minority groups. She said some of the countries in South Asia, including India, has changed their laws to ensure equal rights to every citizen - irrespective of caste, creed, religion and sexual preference. Editor of the daily Bhorer Kagoj, Shyamal Datta, said 'political gossips' hold the major share of newspaper pages, ignoring many development and social issues. He said the media - both print and electronic - should come forward to establish the rights of the hijras.