Speech of Founders

Joya Sikder

President

Sopmurna Welfare Organization

Once upon a time in 2010, a small idea was born out of a big dream- the dream of dignity, equality, and justice for people long pushed to the margins. That idea took the shape of Somporker Noya Setu, which later became Sompurna. What started as a modest community initiative has today grown into a powerful platform for transgender, Hijra, sex workers, and gender-diverse people across Bangladesh.

Sompurna was never just an organization, it has always been a movement. A movement to break silence, to claim rights, and to open doors for those who were told they had no place

 in society. We work to ensure that our community not only survives, but thrives through advocacy, legal support, capacity building, and above all, unity.

For me, this is more than leadership, it is my life’s mission. I have walked this path as a transgender activist, community leader, and policy advocate. Beyond Sompurna, I also served as President of the National Sex Workers Network and worked as a researcher with icddr,b, focusing on the health and rights of marginalized groups. Over the years, I engaged with ministries, participated in parliamentary consultations, and contributed both nationally and internationally to reduce violence, discrimination, and systemic exclusion against my community.

As a founder and lifelong activist, I am proud of how far we have come, but I am even more hopeful about the journey ahead. The challenges may be many, but the possibilities are endless. With courage, solidarity, and resilience, I believe we can create a Bangladesh where every person, regardless of gender identity, lives with pride and equality.

Thank you.