JMBF learned from its reliable sources that Radia Teherin Utsha, a 19-year-old transgender model, tragically ended her life by jumping from the sixth-floor roof of Byatikram Mahila Hostel in Mirpur, Dhaka. Radia, a student in the honors first year at Mirpur Bangla College, took this drastic step on April 22, Monday, around 8:00 PM.
The young woman was seriously injured after leaping from the female hostel located at Mahua Manzil, Mirpur-10. Despite efforts to save her, Radia succumbed to her injuries at the emergency department of Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital. It has been revealed that Radia had been concealing her transgender identity during her six-month stay at the hostel.
Prior to her tragic act, Radia left a distressing message on Facebook, indicating her intentions to end her life. In her final status update, she wrote, "Tonight I am going to kill myself. I tried hard to delete my social media accounts but I couldn't. I unlocked all my phones. Please delete all my accounts if someone gets my phone."
Hailing from Jamalpur's Bakshiganj Upazila, Radia, despite facing numerous challenges, pursued her dreams of modeling alongside her academic endeavors. She achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first transgender woman to receive a 'yes' card at the Miss Evergreen beauty pageant in 2023.
However, fame came with its share of hardships for Radia. Following her success in the beauty pageant, she became a target of relentless bullying and trolling. Her parents' rejection forced her out of her home, and she faced public harassment in her native village for expressing her true identity. Additionally, Radia was subjected to further torment by some individuals within the transgender community in Dhaka.
The struggles continued as Radia encountered serious housing issues in Dhaka. She endured the trauma of sexual assault while residing in a male hostel and was subsequently expelled when attempting to seek refuge in a female hostel.
Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder President of the France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), deeply mourned the tragic suicidal incident of transwoman Utsho. He said, "the devastating loss of Radia Teherin Utsha serves as a poignant reminder of the profound challenges faced by transgender individuals in our society. Her untimely demise underscores the urgent need for greater awareness, acceptance, and support for the transgender community, as we collectively strive for a more inclusive and compassionate world."
JMBF believes that the deaths of Radia Teherin Utsha are a sobering reminder of the human cost of prejudice and discrimination. Let us honor her memory by redoubling our efforts to create a society where all people are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their gender identity."
Finally, JMBF emphasized that ending the tragedy of transgender suicides in Bangladesh requires a collective commitment to building a more just and inclusive society. It requires us to confront our own biases and prejudices, and to stand in solidarity with transgender individuals in their struggle for equality and dignity.
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