Members of the Hijra community in Gurudaspur, Natore, will now have a designated burial ground after years of being denied access to local graveyards. The land was formally handed over on March 31, marking a development for a community that has long faced exclusion not only in life, but also in death.
Community members said the demand emerged from repeated incidents of burial denial. Three years ago, a Hijra person named Chhohar (30) died on a winter night but was not allowed burial in the local graveyard, and family members were forced to bury the body in their home yard. A similar incident occurred in the case of the father of Hijra Guruma Nodi Sarkar, who was also denied burial in the village graveyard because of his association with the Hijra community.
According to local sources, a 4-decimal plot of land was purchased for 510,000 taka from a local businessman for use as a burial ground. A five-member committee oversaw the purchase, and the Upazila Social Services Officer was listed as the official recipient on behalf of the community. The deed was formally handed over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Fahmida Afroze to Guruma Nodi Sarkar.
There are 45 Hijra community members in the upazila, including 21 living in Kumarkhali village. Community members including Nupur, Sonali, Soukhin, Madhabi, Eti, and Deepa said they regularly face harassment, derogatory remarks, and social isolation, and that exclusion often continues even after death through denial of burial in village graveyards.
According to the report, Nodi Sarkar raised the issue at an upazila-level meeting, which led to the initiative to purchase land. The UNO stated that steps were taken after learning of the issue and indicated that further support and rehabilitation measures for the community are being considered.
Source: Daily Ittefaq
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