‘Thousands of us waiting for opportunity to shine’

Tashnuva Anan Shishir made headlines earlier this week, when news broke that she will start her journey as the first transgender newscaster in the country today. In an interview with The Daily Star, she shared the story of her journey.

 "Such initiatives will enable further opportunities for transgender communities, and Boishakhi TV is to be lauded for that," said Shishir. "There are thousands of 'Shishir' waiting for an opportunity to shine. I hope that this will make their journey easier".

Passionate about dancing and acting from a young age, Shishir completed her master's in sociology from National University. "Wherever I went, no matter what I did, I had to prove myself again and again," shares Shishir. "People mocked me, questioned my abilities and I had to prove myself."

Shishir is a dedicated social worker and activist, having worked at Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program, National Human Rights Commission Bangladesh, and Bandhu Social Welfare Society. During the pandemic, she helped several struggling transgender individuals with assistance of other cultural activists.

"I was bullied, harassed throughout my life," reminisces Shishir. "I was called names during my school days, no one called me by my official name. Throughout my student life, I had only one or two people I could call friends."

She began her acting career in 2007 with the theatre troupe Natua and has been a part of troupe BotTola for more than two years. She has appeared in a number of theatre productions with many groups. Shishir is also a freelance voice artiste and a professional model.

She began acting on screen in 2012. "At the time, I worked without any remuneration. I started getting paid for my television projects from 2016," she said.

"My aim is to establish a place of acceptance for my community and myself in the media," says Shishir.

She also spoke about the underrepresentation of transgender actors in the entertainment arena. "There are many stereotypes surrounding the transgender community, which inevitably impacts our work as actors," she says.

"I worry about my co-workers' behaviour towards me and also directors' acceptance of my acting skills."

Nevertheless, she believes that things are slowly getting better. "Though our community still faces discrimination and harassment, our lives are getting easier," she added.  "People are more educated and aware now. As a result, there is a broader scope for conversations about the transgender community."

Shishir is also the founder of Shree, a non-profit organisation that supports marginalised communities. "I aim to work with aspiring performers; I want to groom them, help them develop themselves," says Shishir about her plans with Shree. She plans to work at the grassroots level to create more jobs for the transgender communities and to raise awareness campaigns across the country. "I dream to establish Shree as an independent organisation led by transgender people for transgender people," adds Shishir.

"I want to build a team with aspiring dancers, actors and media personalities from the transgender community to raise awareness about the obstacles we face. I want to help these individuals build sustainable livelihoods," she says. "We need to prioritise people's capabilities over their gender identities."

Shishir is set to appear in two feature films this year, Anonno Mamun's "Koshai", where she plays a detective, and "Goal" directed by Sayeed Shahriar. The movie revolves around the struggles of a female coach, played by Shishir. 

Shishir, along with Ho Chi Minh Islam, another transgender woman from Bangladesh, recently received a scholarship to pursue higher studies at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health. She has already started her classes online.

Shishir believes that adaptability, tolerance, and an eagerness for learning are important characteristics for succeeding in life. "Everyone must work to make themselves qualified. They must love themselves, work towards what they love," says Shishir. "It is very important to make yourself qualified. It will take time, but qualification is the most crucial aspect in this journey.