Third gender candidate Rani withdraws from election

Independent candidate from Rangpur-3 and human rights activist representing the hijra community, Anwara Islam Rani, has announced her withdrawal from the election at the final stage of campaigning.

She made the announcement at a press conference held at the office of Naya Adhikar Tritiyo Lingo Unnayan Sangstha in Nurpur area of Rangpur city on Saturday night. She did not endorse any other candidate.

Rani said she is withdrawing to press for constitutional recognition of reserved seats in parliament for the hijra community and all disadvantaged and marginalised groups.

Urging voters not to cast votes for the deer symbol, she said her decision is not against any individual or political party but a principled and movement-based stance.

She called on all political parties, candidates, supporters and her own campaign workers and volunteers to ensure that no tension or conflict arises over her decision. She said she believes in peaceful, tolerant and respectful political culture.

Rani said the decision was taken to protest discrimination without compromise or being ‘sold out’. She described it not as a farewell, but a firm, principled and peaceful stand against inequality.

She said constitutional recognition of reserved seats for the hijra community and other marginalised groups is achievable if people stand in solidarity with her demand.

Highlighting the reality of marginalised communities, Rani said that despite changing times, their expected progress has not materialised due to structural limitations of the state and society. “We are called backward, but we are not backward, we are held back,” she said.

She added that marginalised communities do not want to remain a burden on society, but seek dignified participation in the mainstream.

Rani said she has long been demanding affirmative action for marginalised communities before finalising the future roadmap of the July National Charter. She explained that affirmative action involves temporary reserved seats in parliament to integrate long-deprived groups into the mainstream, similar to measures once taken for women.

She noted that in 1973 there were 15 reserved seats for women in parliament, which gradually increased to 50, enabling women to play significant roles in state and society. Yet not a single reserved seat exists for the hijra or other marginalised communities.

Anwara Islam Rani is president of Naya Adhikar Tritiyo Lingo Unnayan Sangstha and founder of the social initiative Rupantor. She came into the spotlight in the 12th national parliamentary election in 2024 as an independent candidate from Rangpur-3. In that election, Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader won with 81,000 votes, while Rani was his closest rival with 23,000 votes under the eagle symbol.

Rangpur-3 constituency, comprising Rangpur sadar upazila and wards 10 to 33 of Rangpur City Corporation, has 169 polling centres and a total of 508,240 voters. Of them, 252,370 are men, 255,849 women and five hijra voters.