HERMAPHRODITE or transgender, known here as hijra, is the name of a phobia these days. Wherever you go, you may be prey to the gang of common gender and will be subjected to their harassment. You are forced to give them money, otherwise, they will create a vulgar situation around. The other day, as I was returning home, I discovered myself amidst of a gang of hijras who were taking money from almost all people on the road by playing different tricks. I saw them unexpectedly and tried to escape from their clutches. I was muttering some Dua and fled from the scene within a twinkle of an eye and narrowly escaped.
 I was thankful to God as I could leave safe and unscathed on that day. A year ago my brother was forced to give to a gang an amount of five thousand taka as they created a horrible situation. The gang of hijra came to know somehow that a baby was born in the area. So on a fine morning they entered the apartment building of my brother and went to his flat housed on the 6th floor and created horrifying noise and started smacking on the doors. The caretaker failed to calm them and the gang went rampant. Soon the situation went out of control. Finally the band of hijra agreed to leave the place if they were handed over Taka five thousand. After taking the money, the hijras left the flat. This type of nuisance is common in every nook and cranny of Dhaka city and elsewhere. It may very well be termed a type of extortion.
Md Zonaed Emran
The Farmers Bank Limited
zonaed.emran@gmail.com
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