Trans woman brutally murdered in Jashore, Bangladesh
Trans woman was allegedly murdered by man who was having an affair with her
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France has issued the following statement in response to the brutal murder of a trans woman in Bangladesh. An edited version of the statement appears below.
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deepest sorrow and strongest condemnation of the horrific murder of Mangali alias Poly, a 35-year-old transgender woman by her boyfriend on June 28 in Jashore in southwestern Bangladesh.
JMBF demands justice for Poly and calls upon the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The swift arrest and confession of Babu Hossain must be followed by a thorough investigation and a fair trial to bring justice to Mangali and her family.
According to news published in various Bangladeshi media outlets, JMBF learned that on early Friday morning of June 28, Poly was allegedly brutally killed by her boyfriend, Babu Hossain, by slitting her throat. The the victim’s brother filed a case at Manirampur Police Station, and police recovered her body around 8pm the same day.
On June 29, police arrested Hossain. He confessed to the murder, and police recovered the weapon used in the crime.
Earlier, Mangali had bought land and built a house in the neighboring Satnal-Machna village where she lived alone. Allegedly, Hossain had been having an affair with Mangali for a long time. On the afternoon of June 27, Mangali called Hossain several times on his mobile phone, asking him to come to her home. Babu arrived at Mangali’s house around 9pm, and they spent time together.
Around 3am on June 28, when Hossain wanted to return to his home in Kamalpur, Mangali stopped him and pressured him to marry her. When Hossain refused, he allegedly struck Mangali at least 10-12 times on the neck and other parts of her body with a chopper, killing her. After confirming her death, Hossain allegedly took 2200 BDT (approximately $19 USD) in cash and a gold earring from the deceased. He then climbed onto the roof of the house, jumped over the wall, and ran away.
On the day after the incident, locals reported to the police after not getting any response from Mangali. The police recovered Mangali’s bloodied body from the stairwell of the house and sent it to the morgue for a post-mortem.
JMBF Founder President Advocate Shahanur Islam states that Mangali’s murder is not an isolated incident but a tragic reminder of the broader pattern of violence and discrimination faced by the transgender and other sexual and gender identity expression minority communities in Bangladesh and around the world.
JMBF urges the Bangladeshi government to take immediate and concrete steps to protect transgender individuals and to promote tolerance and equality. This includes implementing comprehensive policies to prevent violence, ensuring access to justice, and promoting awareness and acceptance of transgender rights.
JMBF stands in solidarity with Mangali’s family, friends, and the entire transgender community in Bangladesh during this difficult time. JMBF reaffirms its commitment to fighting for justice and equality for all, regardless of gender identity. JMBF will continue to advocate for the rights of transgender individuals and to demand an end to the violence and discrimination they face.
JMBF calls on all individuals, national and international organizations, and governments to join in condemning this heinous act and in working towards a society where everyone can live free from fear and violence.
