Bangladesh, with a population of over 160 million, where Muslims constitute 91.02% of the population, is largely committed to Islamic beliefs and religious values. Individuals, families, and society strive to follow religious disciplines. In this country, the maximum punishment for rape is the death penalty. Public indecency and antisocial activities are legally prohibited. Yet, the rates of rape, adultery, and resulting murders are alarmingly increasing. Dear readers, let’s look at some statistics related to this issue.
According to a report published by Somoy News, quoting ‘Light House’:
In 2022, 4,360 women were victims of rape: Light House
The report, presented at a meeting titled ‘Media Advocacy’ on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2023 on Monday (March 6), revealed that 4,360 women were raped in the country in 2022, with 450 of them subsequently murdered. During the same period, 9,764 women were victims of violence across the country. ―Somoy News, March 6, 2022
The Daily Star Bangla headline reads, ‘Over 9,500 rapes in the country in the last decade, most during the coronavirus pandemic.’
The main news stated, ‘The highest number of 1,627 rapes occurred in 2020, the year the coronavirus pandemic began. An analysis by the private human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) reveals this figure. From 2013 to September 2022, 9,655 rapes were recorded in the country, including 2,379 cases of gang rapes. … Over the last ten years, 572 victims were murdered after rape, and 103 committed suicide. …’ ―The Daily Star Bangla, November 6, 2022
Now let’s look at some recent peculiar news in the world.
On January 5, 2024, a news headline published by Kalaroa News read, ‘Two teenage girls in Kalaroa insist on marrying each other despite being homosexual, eventually arrested.’ The main news reveals that a teenager from Sunamganj ran to a friend in Kalaroa due to romantic feelings.
According to a report published by Daily Samakal, the investigating officer of Rakib Hasan murder case and SI Anwar Hossain of PBI Dhaka district, after the arrest, Champa aka Swapna revealed that she was a natural male named Naushad and has a 12-year-old son. However, after his wife’s death, he suffered depression and led an unemployed life. During this period, he met Delu Hijra, who was actually a natural male. Delu, dressed as a hijra, engaged in various misdeeds and proposed Naushad to become a hijra, suggesting that it could be a lucrative way to earn money and live a life of fun. Tempted by these words, Naushad joined the group of hijras. ―Daily Samakal, November 28, 2023
A news headline published by Daily Prothom Alo reads, ‘She has transitioned from a woman to a man, now complicates employment at Bangladesh Railway’
The detailed news states, Sharmin Akhtar Jhinuk aka Jhinuk Saudagar’s current name is Jibran Saudagar. Not just a change of name, but through surgery, 30-year-old Jhinuk is now a man. Even though she loved a woman, she has married another man and started a family. ―Daily Prothom Alo, September 19, 2023
During a live TV show hosted by Dr. Phil, a father named Gary broke down in tears as he saw his child as a woman for the first time.
In the interview, Gary said, ‘I only feel loss. It feels like I’ve lost him… I don’t know how to accept her as a daughter. It seems something went wrong.’
Dr. Phil asked, ‘So, is it your fault?’
Gary replied, ‘I believe it’s my fault.’
Dr. Phil later told Inside Edition, ‘He was not celebrating this. To him, it felt like, ‘I have failed as a human being. I have failed as a father. I am destroyed.”
It is noted that Gary’s trans daughter’s name is Steph, who was previously a boy named Zach and a married U.S. Military Police officer. ―Inside Edition, September 16, 2015
A news headline in the New York Post read, ‘Two inmates impregnated by Demi Minor, a trans woman in a New Jersey prison’
The detailed news reported that Demi Minor, a 27-year-old serving a 30-year sentence for murder and placed in a women’s prison, impregnated two female inmates, resulting in her forced transfer to a young adult prison in Burlington County, where she is the only female inmate. ―New York Post, July 17, 2022
In Scotland, part of the United Kingdom, a trans woman was arrested for raping two women while being a man, causing an uproar in the country. ―Fox News, January 25, 2023
Recently, a resident of Kyoto, Japan, named Jackie claimed to be ‘trans-age’ 28 years old during a reality show on AMEBA Prime, although her actual age is 39, born on January 5, 1984. ―Must Share News, September 26, 2023; Next Shark, September 21, 2023
Melody Wiseheart, a 50-year-old male claiming to be trans-age and a trans woman, participated in a regional swimming competition in Canada with nine teenage girls aged 13 to 14 years. ―The Western Journal, October 27, 2023; Beryl News, October 24, 2023
Approximately 1,000 people gathered at a rally at the Berlin Potsdam Platz Railway Station in Germany, identifying themselves as ‘dogs’ and communicated with each other by barking or howling. ―New York Post, September 19, 2023; Daily Mail, September 21, 2023
A headline on Fox News read, ‘From Transgender to Transabled: People are now choosing to identify themselves as disabled.’
The main news discussed the troubling social issue of transablism, a new term used for Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID), where an individual identifies as disabled. ―Fox News, April 28, 2023
Yes, readers! This is now reality!! While the world claims excellence in science and technology, exploring the depths of the oceans and conquering the moon and Mars, some people are grappling with their own identities, with some identifying as the opposite gender, and others preferring to identify as dogs or disabled.
In today’s world, a bizarre ideology known as transgenderism has emerged. Its main proposition is that if a man feels like a woman, then he is a woman, and similarly, if a woman feels like a man, then she is a man. Society and law are expected to recognize them as such. They also have the right to undergo medical procedures to change their gender.
The Origin of Transgenderism
Since the 1990s, the term “transgender” or “gender identity” has been used as a group or umbrella term synonymous with non-binary and LGBT identities. The term transgender was first used by Professor John F. Oliven of Columbia University in 1965. It was first introduced as “Transsexualismus” in German in 1923, later evolving internationally to “Transsexual.” Initially, transgender referred to those who sought hormone therapy and surgery for gender transition. The definition of transgender has since broadened to include cross-dressers (those who are drawn to wearing the clothing of the opposite sex).
The critical aspect now is that being transgender doesn’t depend on physical characteristics or medical procedures; it is a matter of personal desire. Anyone can declare themselves transgender whenever they feel that they do not identify with or believe in their biological gender.
Before discussing the Sharia perspective of transgenderism, it is necessary to briefly highlight its futility, irrationality, and the horrors it poses to humanity.
From the creation of the world until the day of judgment, Allah has divided the entire human community into two categories: male and female. Alongside creating men and women with different objectives and purposes, He also assigned them different responsibilities and duties. He designed each physically and mentally to fulfill these distinct roles and established separate living conditions and Islamic laws for them. Based on this, individuals, families, societies, and states function orderly and beautifully.
According to the demands of transgenderism, there would be no gender identity in the world. A person’s identity would not be determined by their physical gender but by their mental desires. If a person is not interested in or does not believe in their biological gender, they can declare themselves transgender at any time.
It is astonishing that this can also be considered an ideology! It is even more surprising when global leaders spend billions of dollars and apply considerable pressure internationally to establish this ideology.
Transgenderism is so futile and illogical that it threatens to bring disaster not only to individuals, families, and societies but to the entire world. For instance, consider Mr. Rafiq, who has four daughters and desperately wants a son. After much prayer, a son is born, and Mr. Rafiq is overjoyed. He celebrates with his community, and the son is raised with great care and many dreams. The son excels in school and has a bright future ahead. However, if one day the son begins to identify as a girl, according to transgender ideology, society and law must now recognize him as a female.
Suppose this acceptance solves everything. What happens when Mr. Rafiq tries to enroll his child, now identifying as a girl, in a women’s college? Despite legal recognition as a female, the child’s documents still indicate a male identity. How will the college verify these documents belong to her?
If someone suggests correcting these documents before college enrollment, what happens when the individual wishes to change their gender identity again during or after college?
The demands of transgenderism state that a person must be recognized as the gender they identify with at any moment, without a specific time frame or limit. This lack of definition can significantly impact an individual’s life, as well as their family and social interactions.
If someone maliciously or for personal gain manipulates this ideology, it could lead to severe societal and legal issues. For example, a deceptive male could engage in fraud by entering relationships with women, extracting money under false pretenses, and then switching gender identity to evade responsibilities.
Ultimately, implementing transgender ideology based on mere feelings without consistent, logical standards is not only impractical but potentially harmful to society’s structure and order. It challenges the natural and legal frameworks that maintain societal balance, posing significant risks without clear resolutions.
Mohammad Anisur Rahaman Shohagh
Principal & Managing Director (Averroes International School)
Former Exam Facilitator of British Council
