Activist and actress Tashnuva Anan Shishir gave her debut as the first openly transgender news anchor in Bangladesh by reading a three-minute news bulletin on International Women’s Day for the satellite channel Boishakhi TV.

Shishir is also the first openly trans person pursuing a degree in public health at Dhaka university, where she’ll continue studying along with her position as a news anchor.

"I want to build a team with aspiring dancers, actors and media personalities from the transgender community to raise awareness about the obstacles we face," Shishir told The Daily Star. "We need to prioritise people's capabilities over their gender identities."

Shishir is a suicide attempt survivor, who’s lived through sexual assault, and being bullied and teased as a teen by family members, relatives and neighbors. She moved to Dhaka to remove herself from a hostile situation, and started working for charities and acting with a local theatre group in the capital.

“Bangladesh officially has more than 10,000 transgender people, but activists say the actual number is much higher,” AP reports. “The LGBT community faces social isolation, sexual abuse and other forms of harassment.”

Experiencing discrimination or mistreatment in education, employment, housing, healthcare, and from law enforcement is associated with being at an increased risk for suicide, according to a report on trans adults and suicide by the Williams Institute at UCLA.

Ninety eight percent of respondents who experienced four instances of discrimination had experienced suicidal ideation, the study found.

Some recent LGBTQ+ rights changes in Bangladesh include trans people getting voting rights in 2018 and the opening of the first Islamic school for trans folks in November.

“Boishakhi TV said it wanted to be part of the changes and has hired a second transgender person in its drama department,” AP reports.

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To get immediate help or to find a qualified counselor, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s toll-free number, 1-800-273-TALK(8255) provides 24/7, free and confidential support: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

People who are deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-273-8255.

Trevor Project is available 24/7 too: 1-866-488-7386
https://www.thetrevorproject.org