On 25th April of 2016, religious extremists brutally assassinated Xulhaz Mannan, a young, enthusiastic, and high-profile LGBTIQ+ activist from Bangladesh, and fellow activist Mahbub Rabby Tonoy. The shockwaves, fury, and sadness that rippled across the Bangladeshi community and beyond prompted many local LGBTIQ+ activists and groups to withdraw from public life. Six years later, in 2021, the situation gradually changes, with LGBT solidarity and activity resurfacing across the country. To celebrate Xulhaz's legacy and to perpetuate his passion and vision, Inclusive Bangladesh established the Xulhaz Mannan Memorial Award of Diversity in 2021. The award value is 10000 BDT and a souvenir. The award recognises Xulhaz's legacy and inspires other community activists to pursue equality and respect in the future.
2025 Awardee | Noor Alam
NOOR ALAM (he/him) is a fierce intersex rights activist who has been advocating for intersex people in Bangladesh and South Asia for over a decade. Facing immense challenges from his family, society, and even within his own community, Noor never backed down. With unwavering courage, he became a powerful voice and visible face of the intersex community in Bangladesh. From challenging harmful stereotypes to intervening in cases of unnecessary surgeries on intersex infants, Noor has stood firm wherever his voice was needed most. His work has saved lives, shifted perceptions, and opened doors for many who had none. In recognition of his bold advocacy, resilience, and lifelong commitment to human rights, Noor Alam is the recipient of the 2025 Xulhaz Mannan Memorial Award for Diversity.
2024 Awardee | Embassy of Netherlands in Bangladesh
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Bangladesh has maintained its diplomatic relationship with Bangladesh for the last 50 years. Within this long timeframe, the government of Netherlands has supported in many different initiatives to promote the human rights of marginalised people of Bangladesh, through its mission in Bangladesh. The embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands has continuously supporting the SRHR rights, HRD's initiatives, enhanced its' connection with grassroots level human rights activists and initiatives and promoting human rights in diverse ways. In 2023, during the UPR review of Bangladesh, the embassy took various initiatives to amplify the local voices in its UPR recommendations. Today, the embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands established itself as one-of-its kind foreign mission in Bangladesh who can actually work and collaborate with the grassroots level diverse human rights defenders.
2023 Awardee | Layla
LAYLA (she/her) is an energetic transgender entrepreneur who left her home in Mymensingh (a small city of Bangladesh) and moved to Dhaka (capital of Bangladesh) at a young age. After spending some time in Hijra Dera, she started her own small business with money she had saved. Since 2010, she has made a living selling matts, toothbrushes, masks, etc. on the side of the road. Her business generates between 200 and 300 Taka per day, which is significantly less than the Hijra and other professions. Despite this, Layla lives a simple life with her hard-earned money, being daily scorched by the sun, drenched by the rain, and covered in street dust. In 2023, Laila has awarded the Xulhaz Mannan Memorial Award due to her indomitable courage, virtuous lifestyle, and exemplary example.
2022 Awardee | Shova Sarkar
SHOVA SARKAR (she/her) is a committed transgender social worker who has been advocating for the human and legal rights of members of Bangladesh's SOGIESC community since 2010. Since 2019, she has established herself as a successful business by selling high-quality food through two food trucks named "Uttaran Food Corner." Shova Sarkar has been advocating for the SOGIESC community's living standards, health care, civil rights, and legal services in Bangladesh. She has been able to influence society perceptions by sharing his story as a transgender entrepreneur and human rights activist in a variety of media sources. Shova Sarkar was presented with the "Xulhaz Mannan Memorial Award for Diversity" in 2022 for her long-standing efforts and contributions to the growth of the SOGIESC community in Bangladesh.
2021 Awardee | M M N
The inaugural 2021 award was presented to M M N, a young Bangladeshi transgender activist, for her commitment and contribution to the transgender community. M identifies as a trans woman and prefers the pronouns she/her. M is a youth trainer, human rights, and transgender rights campaigner from Bangladesh's southern region (25 years). She has been advocating for the rights of SOGIESC/queer/trans/LGBTIQ+ individuals for for seven years. She has served as the transgender community's spokesperson in rural parts of Bangladesh, including the Chattogram hill tracts. M has worked cooperatively and independently with a variety of groups to advance transgender people's rights and has immense potential to develop into a formidable leader in the future.
