Bangladeshi transgender activist and artist Sahara Chowdhury Rebel began a hunger strike near Dhaka University on 10 October, demanding legal recognition of marriage rights for LGBTQ citizens in Bangladesh.
Sahara began her fast and continued for hours without food or water, remaining at the protest site through heavy rain. After discussing with the university’s proctorial team, officials allowed her to stay on the condition that she remove her banner.
She used her demonstration to demand constitutional recognition of adult LGBTQ citizens’ right to marry, emphasizing that marriage in Bangladesh provides social acceptance, legal protection, and economic stability. Supporters locally and abroad called for solidarity and urged allies to write to Bangladeshi embassies and Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, appealing for equal marriage rights.
Despite a media blackout and her declining health, Sahara persisted in her protest until she collapsed late Friday night. Friends carried her home for medical attention and confirmed that she ended her hunger strike after receiving saline, noting that her protest successfully drew attention to marriage equality.
Expulsion from Sylhet Metropolitan University
In August 2025, Sylhet Metropolitan University in northeastern Bangladesh expelled Sahara Chowdhury Rebel. She allegedly posted caricatures of two university professors from other institutions, who had been accused of making transphobic remarks.
According to a 28 August report, Sahara had been accused of operating a Facebook account under the pseudonym “Antarctica Chowdhury,” which published the caricatures. The professors involved later claimed to have received threats and filed complaints with police.
Sahara, in turn, lodged her own complaint, citing threats to her safety from the same individuals. On 13 August, under pressure from organised groups, Sylhet Metropolitan University expelled her indefinitely without presenting any specific reason or offering a chance for defence, according to a joint statement released later by 162 citizens, including academics, artists, and journalists.
The signatories condemned the expulsion as “unjust and discriminatory.” They demanded that the university revoke the decision and adopt gender-sensitive codes of conduct across educational institutions to ensure diversity and inclusion.
“The right to education is protected under Bangladeshi law, the Constitution, and international treaties,” said Shahanur Islam, JMBF’s founder president.
Rally in Solidarity with Sahara
A solidarity rally was held on 11 October at Dhaka University’s Raju Vaskorjo in support of Sahara Chowdhury Rebel. The gathering brought together student organisations, feminist collectives, teachers, and human rights activists.
During the event, Sahara delivered a speech drawn from her “Queer Manifesto,” focusing on socio-economic inclusion and marriage equality for LGBTQIA+ citizens.
Witnesses reported that university staff temporarily cut her microphone, but protesters quickly restored it. Activists said plainclothes police photographed attendees. They also stated that Sahara’s Facebook account was deactivated during the protest.
At the end of her speech, friends carried Sahara home, where she received medical attention after collapsing. In a statement later circulated by her supporters, organisers denounced continued media silence and surveillance, affirming their commitment to the movement:
“As queer, LGBTQIA+, and diverse citizens of this country, we demand our civil, social, political, and economic rights — and stand by Sahara. Civil Rights or Death.”
Action and Threats Targeting Sahara
Sahara Chowdhury Rebel’s hunger strike for LGBTQ marriage rights has drawn significant pushback. FontBD, a local typography firm, banned the use of its fonts in LGBTQ materials after discovering one on Sahara’s banner, with CEO Shorif Uddin Shishir ordering its removal and promising strict action against future misuse.
Meanwhile, according to a message circulating on social media, Sahara has faced coordinated threats on social media, including rape threats and calls for violence. Activists note these attacks target marginalized groups and their personal and professional spaces. Friends and supporters have urged authorities to act, warning that inaction would be a betrayal of justice.
Legal and Social Context
Bangladesh officially recognised “third gender” citizens in 2013, allowing hijra and gender-diverse individuals to identify as such on government documents. In 2019, the government further extended voting and candidacy rights to third-gender citizens, marking a milestone in social inclusion efforts. But this policy primarily applies to hijras, and there is no clear legal framework for other transgender individuals to change their gender markers on official documents.
However, same-sex relationships remain criminalised under Section 377 of the Penal Code, which punishes “unnatural acts” with imprisonment of up to 10 years. There are no formal anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ citizens, and marriage between same-sex partners is not legally recognised.
Despite legal and institutional challenges, activists such as Sahara Chowdhury Rebel have brought renewed visibility to the movement for gender equality and LGBTQ rights in Bangladesh — a struggle increasingly supported by local civil rights organisations and international advocacy networks.
Read Sahara’s Manifesto here.
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