[Dhaka, 01 March 2021]- JSS Security Services Ltd (JSSSL), the most professional security leader of the
industry, have recently transgender security guards to work for the world’s second-largest fashion
retailer, the H&M Group.
This is the very first time for members of the transgender community in Bangladesh to be integrated
into the local safety and security service industry. We believe, that this important step will help to
spread awareness around the importance of breaking stereotypes and to provide equal employment
opportunities for all.
Transgender activist Ananya Banik says: “The transgender community and its members have long been
neglected and abused to the extent that their identities and inheritance have been denied up until
recently. But things are changing. I hope more organizations work towards integrating the community,
empowering and enabling them in the process.”
H&M’s Regional Country Manager Mr. Ziaur Rahman says: “At H&M Group we encourage people to be
themselves and to respect others for who they are. We believe in being inclusive and promoting diversity
in all aspects of our business and across our value chain. This also includes providing inclusive and equal
employment opportunities. This is why I am very happy to share with you some concrete steps we have
taken together with our service providers, to create new employment opportunities for people identifying
themselves as transgender. H&M Group is breaking gender stereotypes in Bangladesh by hiring eight
transgender people as security guards through their partners. Although this is just a first step, it is an
important one, which will hopefully be scalable and an inspiration to our suppliers and other companies
to do the same. We warmly welcome our new colleagues and look forward to a more inclusive future.”
Regarding the integration of the third gender community into the safety and security industry, …… of
JSSSL says: “In Bangladesh, Gender Diverse Population are socially excluded- living on the fringes of
society, often harassed and abused by different variables of society. We have been trying to take an
initiative such as this for a long time to integrate this potent man power into our society, as it ideally
should be.”
“The objective of hiring this community through the initiative is not just about creating awareness on
third gender issues, but establishing their human dignity in the society by empowering them to be self-
dependent,” he added.
It is noteworthy, the Bangladesh government under the leadership Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a
cabinet meeting in November 2020 that new inheritance laws for transgender people are being drafted;
to address the social inequality towards the community.