The aim of the 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 populations in Bangladesh. As the government and public health professionals have emphasized the importance of social distancing and quarantining 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, construction work and educational institutes 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 aftermath of the pandemic.

Sabina Faiz Rashid, Tasfiyah Jalil, Mostafizur Tamal and Maruf Rahman (2020) On the Fringes: Impact of the COVID-19 Shutdown on Hijras Daily Personal, Social and Economic Lives, JPG School of Public Health, BRAC University, Rapid Mini Research Report