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On the banks of the Brahmaputra River, a remote village in northern Bangladesh serves as a sanctuary for the hijra [transgender] community鈥攁 once-revered but now persecuted group. In March 2024, a mosque built by and for hijras offered a rare haven for worship without fear. But this hope was short-lived.
After the August 2024 protests that toppled the secular government, a surge in religious extremism has fueled renewed violence against minorities, including the hijra community. Their mosque, once a beacon of hope and inclusivity, now faces significant threats.
Reporter Sahar Zand gains rare access to this embattled community, following their leader, Tanu Hijra Guru, who fights tirelessly for the women she calls her daughters. Outside the village, Sahar witnesses the harsh realities of survival鈥攂egging, beatings, prostitution鈥攁nd speaks to hijras forced to live as men under family pressure.
Inside the mosque, hijras gather for evening Quran studies, their faith offering a fragile refuge. Built through contributions from hijra women, the mosque鈥檚 modest setting stands as a testament to their resilience. However, its Imam faces mounting threats for defending their right to worship.
In a tense confrontation, Sahar challenges Asif Mahtab, an influential Islamist scholar and vocal critic of LGBTQ rights in Bangladesh, whose inflammatory rhetoric has fueled persecution.
This gripping documentary explores the battle between acceptance and intolerance, hope and hatred, faith and fear, in a nation at a crossroads.

Producer / Presenter: Sahar Zand
Executive Producer: Rajeev Gupta
Editor: Chloe Walker
Production Coordinator; Mica Nepomuceno