The mosque near Mymensingh, north of the capital Dhaka on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, was built on land donated by the federal government after the hijra community was expelled from the prevailing congregation.
“I never dreamed in my life that I would be able to pray in a mosque again,” said Sonia, 42, who loved reciting the Quran as a toddler and studied at an Islamic seminary.
But when she got here out as a hijra, as transgender women are commonly known in South Asia, she was banned from praying within the mosque.
“People told us: ‘Why are you hijra people here in the mosques? You should pray at home. Don’t come to mosques,” said Sonia, who uses only one name.
“It was a shame for us, so we didn’t go,” she added. “This is our mosque. Now no one can say no.”
Several people have entered Bangladeshi politics, with one transgender woman elected as mayor of a rural town in 2021.
However, the hijra continues to struggle for basic recognition and acceptance, deprived of property and marital rights.
They often face employment discrimination and are rather more likely than the typical Bangladeshi to be victims of violent crime and poverty.
Hardline Islamist groups have also sharply criticized the inclusion of Bangladeshi transgender people in class textbooks, resulting in rallies demanding the federal government end efforts to incorporate them within the curriculum.
Mufti Abdur Rahman Azad, founding father of the hijra charity, said the brand new mosque can be the primary of its kind within the country.
Activists say social media is an “unsafe place” for LGBTQ people in Bangladesh
Activists say social media is an “unsafe place” for LGBTQ people in Bangladesh
He added that an analogous project planned in one other city was suspended last month after residents protested.
Dozens of local hijra women donated money and time to construct the Dakshin Char Kalibari Masjid for the Third Gender, which opened this month.
There can be a cemetery here, after an area Muslim cemetery refused to bury a young hijra on its grounds last 12 months.
The mosque’s imam, Abdul Motaleb, 65, said the persecution of the hijra community goes against the teachings of his faith.
“They are like all other people created by Allah,” the cleric said.
“We are all human. Maybe some are men, some are women, but they are all human. Allah has revealed the Holy Quran to everyone, so everyone has the right to pray, no one can be refused.”
Motaleb said other Bangladeshis could learn from the hijra’s faith and strength.
“Ever since I have been in this mosque, I have been impressed by their character and actions,” he said.
Can Bangladesh maintain the tradition of colourful painted rickshaws?
Can Bangladesh maintain the tradition of colourful painted rickshaws?
He said living and praying with the hijra community had modified his “misconceptions” about them.
“When they started living with us, a lot of people said a lot of things,” he said.
“But we realized that what people were saying was not right. They live justly like other Muslims.”
Tonu hopes to expand the simple mosque to be large enough to accommodate more people.
“God willing, we will do it very quickly,” she said.
“Hundreds of people can pray together.”
