Bangladesh rally to support transgendersBy Anbarasan Ethirajan BBC News, Dhaka | 21 October 2011 Last updated at 07:12 ET
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15398437
Activists say the transgender people are often subjected to human rights abuses A rally calling for greater recognition for transgender people has been held in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka.
Hundreds of transgender people, social activists and students took part in the rally organised by the government - a first in the Muslim-majority nation.
Transgenders, locally known as "hijras", often face discrimination and persecution.
Activists say they are subjected to human rights abuses because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Traditionally referred to as "the third gender", transgender people are born male but grow up feeling like and dressing as women.
There are no official figures on how many transgender people there are in Bangladesh. Estimates say the number could be between 30,000 and 150,000.
