23 October 2026 | Batener Mor Cluster Village, Salandar Union, Thakurgaon Sadar, Thakurgaon, Rangpur Division, Bangladesh
A trans man named Rafi Islam has reportedly faced mob harassment after marrying a young woman in Thakurgaon Sadar. On Friday, 23 October, a group of local residents began questioning his gender identity after news of his marriage spread in the Batener Mor Cluster Village area of Salandar Union. According to allegations, members of the group demanded that Rafi remove his clothes so they could examine his body and determine whether he was male. Rafi was reportedly subjected to public harassment over his gender identity and marriage.
Rafi Islam was previously known as a woman and now lives and identifies as a man. According to his family, he developed a relationship with a young woman from the Parbatipur area of Dinajpur approximately two months before the incident. When the relationship became known to both families, the woman’s family reportedly refused to consent to the marriage. The woman later left her family home to join Rafi, and the couple got married. After news of their marriage spread in the area, some local residents raised objections and questioned Rafi’s gender identity. They allegedly demanded proof of his male identity and insisted that he remove his clothes to show his physical characteristics.
A local resident identified as Alam Haque expressed doubts about Rafi’s male identity and demanded evidence of his physical transition. Another woman, identified as Sumaiya, raised similar questions. Their actions subjected Rafi’s personal identity and body to public scrutiny. The public questioning of his gender identity and demands that he expose his body following his marriage sparked discussion and controversy in the area.
Rafi’s father stated that he was aware of his son’s male identity. Meanwhile, Fazle Elahi Mukut Chowdhury, Chairman of Salandar Union Parishad, said that he did not have any medical documentation regarding Rafi’s physical transition. Allegations of harassment against Rafi emerged following objections from local residents, public questioning of his gender identity, and demands that he remove his clothes to prove his manhood.
References
- Ekushey Television — From Girl to Boy, Marriage to Another Young Woman Sparks Controversy, 24 October 2026.
Read the Ekushey Television report - Cox’s Bazar News — Claims to Have Transitioned from Female to Male, Marries a Young Woman, 24 October 2026.
Read the Cox’s Bazar News report - NewsZone BD — Claims to Have Transitioned from Female to Male, Marries a Young Woman, 24 October 2026.
Read the NewsZone BD report - YouTube — Video related to the marriage of Rafi Islam and the reaction in Thakurgaon Sadar.
Watch the video on YouTube - YouTube — Video related to the marriage of Rafi Islam and the reaction in Thakurgaon Sadar.
Watch the video on YouTube
