Bangladesh takes a toll on its LGBTQ citizens
Lesbian couple detained by police; two trans citizens take their own lives
NOTICE: For help in dealing with suicidal thoughts, click HERE.
Three recent incidents highlighted the grim prospects for LGBTQ people in Bangladesh.
In one case, Suborna and Tonni, a married lesbian couple, were detained by police after neighbors protested their relationship. They were then separated and returned to their families. The police action was a blatant violation of the couple’s constitutional rights and their dignity, according to the LGBTQ rights advocacy group JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF).
In a second case, Radia Teherin Utsha, a transgender model, took her own life on April 13 after she was thrown out by her parents and bullied by members of the public, including some trans people. Before the bullying started, she had become the first transgender woman to receive a ‘yes’ card at the Miss Evergreen beauty pageant in 2023. (A second trans contestant eventually became a runner-up at that pageant.)
In the third case, a 22-year-old trans man, Abdul Mannan Ananya,, took his own life on April 17 in response to intense societal pressure.
JMBF said that the incidents resulted from a pattern of human rights abuses against sexual minorities in Bangladesh.
Regarding Suborna and Tonni, JMBF stated:
JMBF Condemns Detention of Lesbian Couple in Bagerhat, Bangladesh
Paris, France — JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expressed profound concern regarding the recent detention of a married lesbian couple by the Mongla police station in Bargethat. The detention followed a homophobic local public protest against the couple’s expression of their sexual orientation and their marriage on April 13, 2024.
The France-based rights organization is deeply troubled by the police’s actions in detaining the couple for 24 hours solely because of their decision to marry as a same-sex couple. JMBF views this incident as a blatant violation of the couple’s constitutional rights and their dignity.
Reports from various online newspapers in Bangladesh detail the story of Suborna, a lesbian woman from Narayanganj, who met another lesbian woman named Tonni in Bagerhat. The two women reportedly connected through social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook, eventually developing a deep love for each other over the course of 2 to 3 months. Their friendship blossomed into a commitment to marriage, culminating in their wedding ceremony on April 12, where they exchanged vows and performed the rituals with reverence, touching the Holy Quran.
However, news of their marriage quickly spread throughout the community, leading to local residents informing the police on the morning of April 13. The police arrived in the afternoon and arrested the couple, subsequently holding them in custody at Mongla Police Station. On April 14, both Suborna and Tonni were handed over to their guardians.
Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France, stated that the detention of the lesbian couple by the police is a clear violation of their human rights, including the right to marriage and privacy. He urges the government to ensure these rights for every citizen, regardless of age, race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity, in alignment with international norms and standards.
JMBF asserts that the detention of the lesbian couple by the police is a blatant form of discrimination against sexual minorities, unfortunately reflecting a broader pattern of human rights abuses against sexual minorities in Bangladesh.
JMBF urgently calls on the relevant authorities to take immediate action against those responsible for this reprehensible act of interfering with personal lives and privacy.
JMBF strongly condemns the actions taken against the lesbian couple and calls for swift justice to ensure their rights and dignity are upheld without discrimination based on sexual orientation.
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France urges for the constitutional recognition of homosexuals people in Bangladesh and demands the repeal of Section 377 of the Penal Code and the enactment of laws to safeguard the rights and dignity of individuals within the LGBTQ+ community.
JMBF stands in solidarity with all those affected and reaffirms its commitment to advocating for justice, equality, and human rights for all individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Regarding Radia, JMPF stated:
JMBF deeply mourns the recent tragic suicidal death of transgender model Radia Teherin Utsha in Dhaka
Paris, France — JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) deeply mourns the tragic suicidal death of transgender model Radia Teherin Utsha in Dhaka on April 22, 2024. JMBF believes that Radia Teherin Utsha’s death is a sobering reminder of the human cost of prejudice and discrimination. We should honor her memory by redoubling our efforts to create a society where all people are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their gender identity.
JMBF learned from its reliable sources that Radia Teherin Utsha, a 19-year-old transgender model, tragically ended her life by jumping from the sixth-floor roof of Byatikram Mahila Hostel in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Radia, a student in the honors first year at Mirpur Bangla College, took this drastic step on April 22, Monday, around 8:00 PM.
The young woman was seriously injured after leaping from the female hostel located at Mahua Manzil, Mirpur-10. Despite efforts to save her, Radia succumbed to her injuries at the emergency department of Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital. It has been revealed that Radia had been concealing her transgender identity during her six-month stay at the hostel.
Prior to her tragic act, Radia left a distressing message on Facebook, indicating her intentions to end her life. In her final status update, she wrote, “Tonight I am going to kill myself. I tried hard to delete my social media accounts but I couldn’t. I unlocked all my phones. Please delete all my accounts if someone gets my phone.”
Hailing from Jamalpur’s Bakshiganj Upazila, Radia, despite facing numerous challenges, pursued her dreams of modeling alongside her academic endeavors. She achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first transgender woman to receive a ‘yes’ card at the Miss Evergreen beauty pageant in 2023. [Editor’s note: Trans woman Yasin Ahmed Sokal went on to win the title of second runner-up in that pageant.]
However, fame came with its share of hardships for Radia. Following her success in the beauty pageant, she became a target of relentless bullying and trolling. Her parents’ rejection forced her out of her home, and she faced public harassment in her native village for expressing her true identity. Additionally, Radia was subjected to further torment by some individuals within the transgender community in Dhaka.
The struggles continued as Radia encountered serious housing issues in Dhaka. She endured the trauma of sexual assault while residing in a male hostel and was subsequently expelled when attempting to seek refuge in a female hostel.
Regarding Abdul Mannan Ananya, JMBF issued this statement, which has been modestly edited here:
In a tragic incident on April 17, 2023, the lifeless body of Abdul Mannan Ananya (22), a transgender individual, was discovered hanging in a rented house in Gazipur’s Sreepur area. The deceased had been residing on rent in the residence of Tofazzal Hossain, a resident of Dhanua village.
According to statements from acquaintances of the deceased, Deputy Inspector SI Abu Raihan said, “It has been disclosed that Ananya took his own life due to societal pressures. Upon receiving the distressing news, his body, found hanging, was retrieved from the scene and subsequently transported to Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. Legal procedures are underway in connection with this unfortunate incident.”
Tofazzal Hossain, the landlord of the rented accommodation, expressed, “Abdul Mannan Ananya had been residing in my premises for the past four months. He seemed to be constantly burdened by societal expectations. His acquaintances sporadically mentioned his struggles to me. It is presumed that the unbearable societal pressure led him to take this extreme step.”
Authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Advocate Shahanur Islam, founder president JMBF said such suicides are common in the LGBT community because of social rejection, discrimination, and violence faced by the LGBT community, including hijra individuals.
He urged the government to undertake initiatives to integrate LGBT communities, including hijra individuals, into mainstream society with dignity by eliminating all forms of discrimination, harassment, and violence, as well as providing psychological counseling.
This article was revised May 8, 2024, to add the information about Abdul Mannan Ananya.
Suicide prevention lines
If you are in the United States and are having suicidal thoughts, suffering from anxiety or depression, or just want to talk, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386.
In the United Kingdom, the Samaritans suicide hotline is at +44 (0) 8457 90 90 90.
In Nigeria, LGBTQ people are invited to download the mobile Qtalk discussion/counseling app, where they can chat with a counsellor for free. (To download it, click HERE.)
Wikipedia also lists many countries’ suicide crisis lines, mixed in with general emergency numbers.
