Earlier, we witnessed the empowering journey of Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, a trans-woman, who rose above all the insults and cruel names given to her to become a doctor. Now, 29-year-old Tashnuva Anan Shishir has made history in Bangladesh by becoming the country’s first-ever transgender news anchor. On International Women’s Day (March 8), she presented the afternoon news bulletin for Boishakhi News saying on air,
“This could be revolutionary and create a new dimension in people’s thinking.”
পর্দায় ইতিহাস গড়লো বৈশাখী টেলিভিশন
পর্দায় ইতিহাস গড়লো বৈশাখী টেলিভিশন
Posted by Boishakhi News on Monday, March 8, 2021
BBC News reports that she faced mental torture, sexual harassment and bullying when she was younger. Even her family was not spared due to which her father stopped speaking to her and she left home.
“I never left school. My sixth sense always told me to keep studying. If I continue reading, I will be able to go somewhere. I continued my studies despite enduring hundreds of insults day after day. All I had in mind is that I should continue my study.”
A private news channel has appointed Bangladesh’s first transgender news presenter.#TashnuvaAnanShishir will start presenting news for Boishakhi TV from the #InternationalWomensDay on March 8. pic.twitter.com/Iu9dhU1WXB
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) March 6, 2021
She was a model and an actor before deciding to apply for work at TV stations. Speaking of her debut bulletin she said, “I tried to think of stage dramas I have performed in and follow techniques I have learned there. But I was shaking inside.” The Indian Express reports that after she went off the air, she got emotional and broke down.
“There are thousands of ‘Shishir’ waiting for an opportunity to shine. I hope that this will make their journey easier.”
VIDEO: Bangladesh's first transgender news presenter breaks down in tears after her word-perfect debut was beamed to the nation and the cameras were off. Tashnuva Anan Shishir, delivered the three-minute news bulletin on Boishakhi TV pic.twitter.com/xUlfg3JWBE
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 9, 2021
Thank you, Tashnuva, for being an inspiration to us all.