Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the mother of the transgender people as it is she who recognized the third gender in the country.

“Many were in state power in the country. But none of them gave the option to write the third gender in passport or any government form. Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has recognized the transgender,” he said.

The minister said this while addressing a function for distribution of the Prime Minister’s gifts among the third gender people marking the Eid-ul-Azha organized by the Chattogram District administration at its office here.

Hasan also handed over books on the Liberation War and Bangabandhu to Bangabandhu Hall of Chattogram Press Club and medicines to Chattogram Ma o Shishu Hospital.

He said the Eid journey has become more comfortable because of the Padma Bridge. “This is not my speech. It is the comments of the countrymen. But in some online news report, I saw that the BNP leaders are claiming that the people are suffering in Eid journey. In fact, they are feeling sorrow as the people are going home well,” he added.

He said the Eid-ul-Azha teaches the lesson of sacrifice and establishing brotherhoods among the people. “I hope that they (BNP) would stop lying and the politics of creating confusion among the countrymen,” said Hasan, also Awami League (AL) joint general secretary.

He said the government of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina believes in the development of all people of the country. Huge development of neglected and marginal people has taken place in the last thirteen and a half years, which never happened in the country earlier, he said.

The minister said the premier has recognized the transgender and even special quota and allocations have been given for them (third gender) in many jobs. And now, the transgender are getting jobs in senior posts in the government offices, he added.

He said preferences to the transgender are also given in the social security net programmes. Thus, the country is marching ahead through the development of all people, he added.

Hasan said not only transgender, the parents tried to hide their autistic children even before thirteen to fourteen years ago. “And now, the autistic children and youths are achieving awards in the international sports arena. And it has been possible only for the premier’s worthy daughter Saima Wazed Putul,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Chattogram Md Mominur Rahman presided over the function while Awami League (AL) city unit general secretary and former Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, President of Chattogram Chamber Mahabubul Alam, City unit Freedom Fighter Commander Mozaffar Ahmed, District Unit Muktijuddah Commander Sarwar Kamal, Chattogram Press Club President Ali Abbas and third gender representative Falguni Hijra, among others, addressed the function.