Sunday, October 22, 2023

Statement: JMBF Demands Prompt Justice for Murder of Self-Identified Transgender Drummer in Bangladesh

Paris, France; October 22, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, is deeply concerned about the brutal murder of Babul Mridha (60), a drummer in a transgender Hijra group, in Naria upazila under the Shariyatpur district in Bangladesh.

JMBF demands that the perpetrators be brought to justice under the law by identifying and apprehending those responsible for this heinous act through a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation and trial.

According to reports published in various newspapers in Bangladesh, Babul Mridha, a self-identified member of a transgender Hijra group, was brutally murdered on the night of September 4th due to her association with the transgender Hijra community.

The incident occurred at the residence of Kadir Khan in the Shubhogram area of Naria city, where Babul lived as a tenant for the last 18 years. Babul identified herself as a "Hijra" and worked as a drummer, living with the Hijra group. Her permanent residence was in the Maishagaon area of Tongibari Upazila in Munshiganj district.

On the 4th of September (Monday), in the middle of the night, unidentified individuals entered Babul's home by breaking a window. They attacked Babul with sharp weapons, severely cutting veins in her left hand and inflicting injuries on various parts of her body. Upon hearing her cries, other transgender Hijra individuals and local residents rushed to the scene. The attackers fled after injuring Babul, who later died due to bleeding from her injuries.

The police recovered the body from the crime scene and conducted a post-mortem examination at Sharitatpur Sadar Hospital. Later, a case in connection with this incident has been registered with the Naria Police Station against unknown individuals.

To date, the police have not uncovered the motives behind the murder, and no one has been arrested in relation to the murder.

Advocate Shahanur Islam, a prominent human rights lawyer and the Founder and President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), is deeply aggrieved by the lack of progress in uncovering the motives behind the murder and the absence of arrests related to the case by the police.

He urges the authorities in Bangladesh to prioritize this case, immediately apprehend the culprits involved, and ensure the safety and protection of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity and sexual orientation.

Advocate Shahanur Islam believes that Babul Mridha, who identified herself as a transgender Hijra, represents a marginalized and often vulnerable community in Bangladeshi society. The circumstances surrounding her murder, which took place at her residence due to her involvement with transgender communities are alarming and raise questions about the safety and security of transgender individuals in Bangladesh.

JMBF calls upon Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the rights and protection of LGBT people in Bangladesh by enacting the Protection of Sexual Minority People Act after repealing Section 377 of the Bangladesh Penal Code as soon as possible.


Best Regards,

Advocate Shahanur Islam
Founder President
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)
Cell/WhatsApp/Signal: +33 (0)7 83 95 23 15

============================================================ Advocate Shahanur Islam | An Young, Ascendant, Dedicated Human Rights Defender, Lawyer and Blogger from Bangladesh, Fighting for Ensuring Human Rights, Rule of Law, Good Governance, Peace and Social Justice For the Victim of Torture, Extra Judicial Killing, Force Disappearance, Trafficking in Persons including Ethnic, Religious, Sexual and Social Minority People.

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