Women firef ighters have joined the Bangladesh Fire Service for the first time in the organization’s history, breaking a taboo over female employment in traditionally male-dominated workplaces.
Out of nearly 3,000 applicants, 15 women were selected to train as fire fighters, passing exams as well as physical screening. They are now undergoing the same seven-month exercise regime as their male counterparts at an FSCD center in Mirpur.
“There is no concession in terms of training. Start-ing from fire extinguishing, they will receive train-ing in physical fitness, mental fitness and so on. They will be prepared to face every situation,” Mohammad Wahidul Islam, director of the FSCD Directorate, told Arab News.
While more women have been admitted to Bangladesh’s uniformed services over the past decade, until now they could not seek careers in the fire department.
“We started to include female personnel in our fire service department for the first time in history,” Islam said.
“This year, we recruited 15 female firefighters, and there are plans to recruit more in the coming years … We believe this will strengthen the capabilities of our department.”
Maimuna Akter from Jhenaidah, southwestern Bangladesh, completed her higher secondary course in commerce this year, but social work has always appealed to her more as it was a path taken by her mother.
“My mother was a village health worker who dedicated herself to the people’s well-being. Seeing my mother, I decided to engage myself in some profession where I could serve people directly.
