Anowara Islam Rani, the country’s only Hijra parliamentary candidate, announced her withdrawal from the 13th national parliamentary election, calling for reserved seats in parliament for the transgender community and other marginalized groups. She made the announcement at a press conference in Rangpur city on Saturday night.
Rani had been contesting as an independent candidate from the Rangpur-3 (City Corporation–Sadar) constituency with the Deer symbol. Addressing voters, she said she had not been influenced by anyone and apologized to supporters, adding that she would continue working alongside the community outside electoral politics.
At the press conference, Rani said that while the number of reserved seats for women has increased over the years, there is no allocation for marginalized groups such as Hijra people, indigenous communities, and the Harijan community. She called for dignified political participation rather than symbolic inclusion.
Rani said marginalized communities in Bangladesh continue to face barriers in education, health, employment, property rights, and social acceptance. She argued that these groups have been kept behind due to structural discrimination and urged policymakers to address the demand for reserved parliamentary seats without delay. Rani had also contested the previous national election from the same constituency and was known for her visible campaign presence.
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