[10] Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer-identifying individuals frequently report harassment, discrimination, abuse, and violence for their gender identity and sexual orientation.

[9] While hijras are generally more accepted and have historically held culturally important roles, they also face severe discrimination and unequal access to various social services like housing and health care.

[15] In May 2024, a lesbian couple were arrested by police "on charges of disturbing public order" after cohabiting together in Gopalpur, 125 kilometers north of Dhaka.

[16] Section 377 ("Unnatural offences") of the Penal Code forbids anal and oral sex, regardless of the gender and sexual orientation of the participants:[17][18] Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.Explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.

Bangladeshi law does not recognise same-sex relationship, civil unions, as well as any kind of domestic partnership for couples of the same sex.

[30][31] On 11 November 2013, hijras were recognized as a separate gender by the Bangladeshi Government in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed.

[32] Despite this, Bangladesh does not have policies outlining measures individuals must undergo to legally change their gender on their official documents, nor is there clarity about who may qualify as a hijra.

[33] In January 2015, the Ministry of Health issued a memorandum requesting that "necessary steps are taken to identify hijras by conducting thorough medical check-ups".

Although public display of affection between friends of the same gender in Bangladesh is commonly approved and does not raise any controversies, there appears to be a strong objection towards homosexuality.

[40] The bulk of the report focused on male prostitution, but it did generate some public discussion about LGBT issues, with Indian movies and water poisoning through arsenic being blamed for making homosexuality more common.

Critical steps towards visibility for sexual minorities include creating safe spaces for meeting, developing learning materials for university students and engaging with legal rights groups.

As part of this initiative, at least 140 members of the transgender community have been provided housing across the country, enabling them to establish new sources of livelihood.

[44][45][46][47] On 19 January 2024, Asif Mahtab Utsha, a part-time lecturer at BRAC University, publicly tore up the seventh-grade textbook History and Social Science, issued by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) as part of the new curriculum, in a seminar, claiming that the book promotes homosexual and transgender concepts.

[48] The controversy evolved around a textbook story titled Sharifar Golpo (The story of Sharifa), where the central character named Sharif, born male at birth but later identifies himself as a woman adopting the name "Sharifa", and subsequently chooses to live as a member of the Hijra community.

In the seminar, titled New Textbook in Current Curriculum: Reality and Future, organized by the National Teachers Forum (affiliated with Islami Andolan Bangladesh, the second largest Islamist political party of Bangladesh), Asif Mahtab Utsha gave a speech during which, he ripped down the pages of the book, shouting, "This will be my protest.

[48][50] Later the Ministry of Education formed a five-member committee to review the chapter, mostly consisting the Islamic scholars and educationists.

[52][53] On 29 January, BRAC University finally issued a statement regarding the controversy saying "that it believes its role is to create space for all views to be discussed and debated constructively, predicated on tolerance and respect.

[58] The first attempt to create an LGBT organisation in Bangladesh came in 1999, when a man called Rengyu, described as a "middle-aged foreign-educated guy from an indigenous tribe", opened the first online group for Bangladeshi gay people, called Gay Bangladesh, which was moderated by a man named Abrar.

The group is the largest network for Bangladeshi gay men, organizing numerous LGBT rights-related events in Dhaka since 2009.

[61] On 25 April 2016, Xulhaz Mannan, founder of Roopbaan and organiser of the Rainbow Rally, was killed in his apartment together with a friend.

[62] Many people have turned to Boys of Bangladesh to discuss their feelings and connect with similar individuals who face the same problems they do.

[63] The UN Population Fund and several NGOs have put pressure on Bangladesh to address issues such as LGBT rights and sexuality education.

[64] In September 2014, at the International Conference on Population Development, Bangladesh refused the idea of providing rights to the LGBT community.

Abdul Momen made similar comments in regards to the situation as he did the previous year at the Sixth Asian and Pacific Population Conference.

Ansar-al-Islam, an Al-Qaeda-linked group, claimed responsibility for the murders stating as he had himself confirmed his sexuality, he needed to be killed according to shariah law.