Bangladesh gay




Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in Bangladesh face widespread social and legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT people. [6][7] Homosexuality is illegal under Bangladeshi law, which is inherited from the colonial British Indian government 's Section of [8]. Understand the situation in Bangladesh concerning LGBT rights and how they affect both local people and tourists.

bangladesh gay

Homosexuality is illegal in Bangladesh, with punishments that include up to life in prison. LGBT Rights in Bangladesh: homosexuality, gay marriage, gay adoption, serving in the military, sexual orientation discrimination protection, changing legal gender, donating blood, age of consent, and more. Homosexual life is a stealth subculture that thrives in secrecy yet enjoys the benefits of permissive friendship intimacy.

However, for a first time gay visitor finding "Gay Life in Bangladesh" among the millions in Dhaka is not difficult thanks to the internet and extensive friendship networks. Due to social norms, most LGBTI people in Bangladesh choose to keep their sexual orientation a private matter to avoid discrimination, social exclusion and hostility from their families and.

This provision carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Only men are criminalised under this law. The Penal Code was inherited from the British during the colonial period, in which the English criminal law was imposed upon Bangladesh. Bangladesh retained the law upon independence and continues to criminalise same-sex sexual activity today.

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Reports suggest section is rarely enforced, however it and other laws are used as a pretext to harass LGBT people. There have been some reports of discrimination and violence being committed against LGBT people in recent years, including assault, harassment, and denial of basic rights and services. The high-profile murder of two LGBT people in had a significant chilling effect on the wider community, and three years passed before anyone had been charged with the murders.

Not only does Bangladesh criminalise same-sex sexual activity, it also fails to properly protect other vulnerable groups, such as women and children, from sexual offences. ILGA World reported two cases in September and October, in which a transgender man and two lesbian women, respectively, were arrested for same-sex sexual activity. However, it is not known what laws were used to arrest these people, or whether they were prosecuted.

However, the law is used by authorities as a pretext to harass and intimidate LGBT people, both real or perceived, and to limit the ability of LGBT organisations to formally register. The police stormed a community centre outside of Dhaka where they claimed students had been having a party. It was later announced by police that the men were not engaged in same-sex sexual activity, but arrested them for possession of prohibited drugs.

In June, media reports suggested that two women were arrested for marrying and moving away together. It is not clear under which laws the women were arrested or whether they were prosecuted. In August, it was reported that a gay school teacher was murdered by Islamist fundamentalists in the city of Savar. Most victims were part of the transgender community. The US Department of State Human Rights report noted that LGBT people were subjected to official discrimination in employment, housing and access to government services, and lesbian and bisexual women lacked access to basic sexual and reproductive health care.

Reports in preceding years found similar results. In July, eight members of Ansar al-Islam, were charged for the murder of two LGBT people in following years of delays to the investigation see below. As such, many have been forced to leave their homes and flee the country for fear of their lives. The investigation into their deaths faced significant delays. The deaths also generated a chilling effect within the LGBT community; following the event and continued harassment, many members of LGBT community, including the leadership of key support organisations, reduced their activities and sought refuge both inside and outside of the country.

It was reported that Ansar al-Islam, the Bangladeshi division of al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the killings. A Human Rights Watch report , reported that in June and July a group of hijras were subject to harassment and invasive and abusive physical examinations at a government hospital as a requirement to join a government employment programme. Besides being politically motivated, the arrests sometime take place simply to secure bribes.

Under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of , individuals may be arrested under suspicion of criminal activity without any order from a magistrate or a warrant. Strong social stigma based on sexual orientation was common and prevented open discussion of the subject. In October, a trans woman, Pinki Khatun, was elected as a councillor and Vice-chair of the council in Kotchandpur in the West of the country.

I campaigned door-to-door and people have responded positively. I did not face any discrimination or hate campaigns… My aim is to work for the betterment of women and protect their rights. Myanmar criminalises same-sex sexual activity between men.