Parliament: The transgender community in the country numbers less than 10,000, according to figures provided in parliament on Thursday.

To be exact, there are 9,379 hijras, as they are more commonly known, in Bangladesh. The number was provided by State Minister for Social Welfare Promod Mankin, based on the report of a survey carried out during the current fiscal.  

The state minister was replying to a scripted question from Awami League lawmaker Israfil Alam (Naogaon 6 constinuency).  

The same survey also identified some 1.285 million members in the harijan caste within the Hindu community.  

He also said as of 19 January 2016 doctors had identified some 1.48 million people with disabilities across the country under a separate survey.

The data relating to people with disabilities is stored digitally, he added.

The junior minister said the government has taken various programmes for education, training, employment and development of the disabled persons.