15 women join fire service as firefighters for first time

Fifteen women have joined the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) as firefighters for the first time in the country.

According to the appointment letters, they officially joined the force on Saturday at FSCD Multipurpose Training Complex in Purbachal of Narayanganj, said Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters Media Cell on Sunday.

After joining, they were transferred to Mirpur Training Complex where Fire Service DG Brigadier General Main Uddin welcomed them on Sunday.

Shahjahan Sikder said the post of "Fireman" was recently changed to "Firefighter" as per the order of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in order to eliminate gender discrimination, creating opportunities for both men and women to be candidates for this post.

On June 20 this year, the recruitment circular for the post of fire fighters was published.

According to the notification, out of 2,707 applicants for the post of firefighter (Female), these 15 women were finally selected for the post, through preliminary screening, physical fitness, medical test, written test and oral examination, and the appointment letter was issued.

Previously, women joined the force as officers, but no woman was appointed as firefighter since there was no opportunity for such appointments.

The newly appointed firefighters are –Majeda Khatun, Papiya Khatun, Pinki Roy, Maimuna Akhtar, Rima Khatun, Meherunnecha Mim, Arjuman Akhtar Rita, Mishu Akhtar, Jharna Rani Pal, Kakuli Khatun, Israt Jahan Iti, Moshammat Nazmun Nahar, Yasmeen Khatun, Rujina Akhtar, and Priyanka Halder.