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First female Bangladeshi paratrooper gets badge

Capt Zannatul Ferdous successfully parachuting down from a height of 1,000 feet, becoming the country's first female paratrooper, inset, Brig Gen Mahbubul Haque pins a badge on Zannatul's uniform as proof of her accomplishment. Photo: STAR

News Desk

The Daily Star

Publication Date : 13-02-2013

 

Capt Zannatul Ferdous has become the first female paratrooper in Bangladesh.

Along with 17 others, Zannatul completed the special paratrooper course by jumping off a helicopter of Bangladesh Air Force from a height of 1,000 feet yesterday.

The jump was orchestrated near Jalalabad Cantonment in Sylhet in Bangladesh's north-east.

“It was very thrilling, I want to jump off again,” said an animated Zannatul upon landing. “Other female colleagues should come forward now. I was scared in the beginning but after finishing the course it has become easier,” she added.

Hailing from Bishnupur in Brahmanbaria, Zannatul Ferdous joined the Bangladesh Army in 2007 after being commissioned with the 59th batch. She is now serving as a computer trainer at the Bangladesh Military Academy.

Lt Col Saiful Islam, chief trainer of the paratrooper course, said there is nothing to bar female officers from joining the paratrooper course. Zannatul's success will surely encourage other females in the army to attempt the jump.

 

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