On the Fringes: Impact of the COVID-19 Shutdown on Hijras Daily Personal, Social and Economic Lives

03, June 2020 | Bangladesh

Authors:

Abstract

The aim of the following research was to understand the health, social and economic impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown on the lives of poor and marginalized hijra popula�ons in Bangladesh. As the government and public health professionals have emphasized the importance of social distancing and quaran�ning to prevent community transmission of the Coronavirus, a general holiday was declared from March 26 2020. This enforced a shut-down of public transport, offices, business houses, factories, construc�on work and educa�onal ins�tutes across the country. With the onset of the lockdown in Bangladesh, the Hijra community are badly affected as are all other daily-wage earner groups in the country. However, their marginalized and socially excluded status makes hijra more vulnerable to becoming infected by the virus as well as facing the economic and social repercussions in the a�ermath of the pandemic.