The chosen few
Khamin writes about the growing trend of female officer recruitment into the Bangladesh army
Almost every dawn finds Raqiba Ferdose, the only daughter of businessman Abdur Raqib and housewife Zannatul Ferdose, at the Dhanmondi park, preparing herself, along with other women, for the Inter Service Selection Board (ISSB) examinations. Although she hails from Dinajpur, Raqiba, accompanied by her mother, has been living in Dhaka for the past four months just to get proper training for the ISSB exam from the Siraj Military Academy in Farmgate.
'I have overcome the preliminary and written exams already,' says Raqiba. 'The next hurdle is now the ISSB and if I pass it I will get closer to getting my dream job of becoming an army officer. That is why I am working so hard now,' she adds.
Raqiba, along with six other female trainees from within and outside the Dhaka district, go through gruelling training sessions at the Dhanmondi park every morning. Their dedication is a reflection of women's growing interest at joining the armed forces due to the stability, lifestyle and respect, which comes with the job.
According to the ISPR, around 283 female military officers were recruited into the Bangladesh Army in the past nine years. Ten of these officers are currently serving as Captains while 10 others are already serving in UN missions abroad. This year, around 50 female cadets from four different long courses are receiving training at BMA long course while some female officers await the rank of a 'Major'.
The extensive army examinations and training programmes season female candidates to become the best. From these, the ISSB exam is the most difficult for any candidate as it screens out the fittest and dedicated individuals for the armed forces.
'The ISSB is the toughest examination that I know of,' says Tazbir Karim, an instructor of the Siraj Military Academy. 'You have to stay at ISSB for a maximum of four days; that is, if you do not get screened out the first day. You take part in various tests like IQ, discussion, physical, psychology etc,' he informed Xtra.
There are other training academies in Dhaka that prepare candidates for the military examinations. Some of these are Colonel Academy, Defence Academy, Pre-Combat and Defence Guide.
Tazbir himself is a third year mathematics student of Dhaka College. Although he did try for the military twice, he was dropped during the ISSB exams. 'The exam is designed to figure out if you are fit to be an army officer or not,' he said.
As such, the training academies prepare trainees through Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), Group discussion in Bangla and English, Individual Obstacle (IO) training and Deputy President Viva (DP viva), daily. Even after passing the ISSB exams, the candidates would be screened during the medical and viva exams. 'A total of 120 to 220 candidates are preparing for the ISSB at our institution,' said Tazbir.
Tashfia Badhan instructs the trainees for Half Group Task (HGT). Born and raised in Khulna, Tashfia's family resides in the district where her mother is a teacher of the Khulna BN School and College. 'I was actually influenced by the female officers who frequented the college,' she shared.
'A female army officer once asked me why I was not trying out for the army, after being impressed with my discipline and fitness,' she said. 'It was this incident, along with the military-like discipline that the college offered, that led me to try out for the army,' she adds.
Tashfia appeared in the most recent ISSB exam. At the training academy, she conducts two fitness programmes where the trainees complete 100 push-ups and two hundred sit-ups to attain the highest standard of physical efficiency required for the ISSB.
Besides all the hard work and living away from most of their families, these candidates also had to overcome family doubts and resistances just to come this far.
For instance, Raqiba's parents like the military life but were initially worried about their only daughter. 'She was still an HSC student when we denied her first request of joining the military,' said Zannatul. 'But she did not give up and convinced us about the bright future that such a job may hold for her,' she added.
'I was influenced by the lifestyle of my uncle and cousin who are serving in the army currently,' said Mayesha Sadia, another trainee taking preparation for the ISSB at Dhanmondi Park. She has been working hard at achieving physical fitness for the exams over the past three months. 'I enrolled in the training academy as it will make me quicker, smarter, more sacrificing and honest: all the qualities required to pass the exam,' she said confidently.
'The selection process for the position of an army officer is very sophisticated,' said a defence official with Directorate General of Forces Intelligence. 'The good thing about the selection process is that there are no fixed number of seats. So, if any candidate can fulfil the requirements through positive attitude, honesty, patriotism, strong personality, adequate intelligence, courage, integrity, sacrificing tendency, sense of honour and pride, they will get selected for certain,' he said.
'Female officers are performing very well alongside the male, currently,' he informed. 'They are highly organised and are capable of maintaining official work. They are also performing well as adjutants. There are more female officials in the signal core than in the army service and ordnance cores,' he said.
Once they are selected, they will undergo a 104-week long Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) course. This includes academic training, computer training, engineering, signal training and physical training. Field trainings are broken down into various phases like Kashti Pathar, Lalghora, Ranagati, Lauhakapat, Purbakon, Dhumketu and Padakkhep.
However, the severe training process and highly-demanding profession can take a toll on the personal life of most female officers. According to sources inside the army, around 25 of the 283 female army officials, recruited over the past ten years in the army, left their jobs due to family and physical problems.
The most common reasons were injuries like fractures in the leg or other parts of the body. Besides family problems, some officers simply dropped out due to the stress the profession demands.
'Bangladesh Army is not a child's play,' said one female lieutenant of the Army Service core. 'It is hard. In order to face these challenges, a female officer requires maximum determination; otherwise she will fail,' she added.
However, female officers are also being recruited in the sectors which demand less physical stress. The highly stressful cores are infantry, armour and artillery.
'Picking up a 7.62 mm. type 56 semiautomatic rifle, that weighs at least 3.85 kg, and training with it daily while also coping with the tension of shooting down targets are no easy task for any female soldier,' said a female lieutenant.
'However, I appreciate the fact that the government is recruiting more female soldiers into the military,' said a Captain serving in the infantry core. 'I appreciate the motive as females are bringing diversity to the army which will eventually facilitate the overall efficiency,' he concluded.
Serving with honour
· Around 283 female officers recruited in the last ten years
· Female candidates prefer the profession due to the respect, lifestyle and job security
· The number of training academies growing
· Most officers serving in signal and army service core
· 25 out of 283 female officers dropped out due to injuries and family problems
http://www.newagebd.com/2010/mar/26/mar26/xtra_inner3.html
Khamin writes about the growing trend of female officer recruitment into the Bangladesh army
Almost every dawn finds Raqiba Ferdose, the only daughter of businessman Abdur Raqib and housewife Zannatul Ferdose, at the Dhanmondi park, preparing herself, along with other women, for the Inter Service Selection Board (ISSB) examinations. Although she hails from Dinajpur, Raqiba, accompanied by her mother, has been living in Dhaka for the past four months just to get proper training for the ISSB exam from the Siraj Military Academy in Farmgate.
'I have overcome the preliminary and written exams already,' says Raqiba. 'The next hurdle is now the ISSB and if I pass it I will get closer to getting my dream job of becoming an army officer. That is why I am working so hard now,' she adds.
Raqiba, along with six other female trainees from within and outside the Dhaka district, go through gruelling training sessions at the Dhanmondi park every morning. Their dedication is a reflection of women's growing interest at joining the armed forces due to the stability, lifestyle and respect, which comes with the job.
According to the ISPR, around 283 female military officers were recruited into the Bangladesh Army in the past nine years. Ten of these officers are currently serving as Captains while 10 others are already serving in UN missions abroad. This year, around 50 female cadets from four different long courses are receiving training at BMA long course while some female officers await the rank of a 'Major'.
The extensive army examinations and training programmes season female candidates to become the best. From these, the ISSB exam is the most difficult for any candidate as it screens out the fittest and dedicated individuals for the armed forces.
'The ISSB is the toughest examination that I know of,' says Tazbir Karim, an instructor of the Siraj Military Academy. 'You have to stay at ISSB for a maximum of four days; that is, if you do not get screened out the first day. You take part in various tests like IQ, discussion, physical, psychology etc,' he informed Xtra.
There are other training academies in Dhaka that prepare candidates for the military examinations. Some of these are Colonel Academy, Defence Academy, Pre-Combat and Defence Guide.
Tazbir himself is a third year mathematics student of Dhaka College. Although he did try for the military twice, he was dropped during the ISSB exams. 'The exam is designed to figure out if you are fit to be an army officer or not,' he said.
As such, the training academies prepare trainees through Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), Group discussion in Bangla and English, Individual Obstacle (IO) training and Deputy President Viva (DP viva), daily. Even after passing the ISSB exams, the candidates would be screened during the medical and viva exams. 'A total of 120 to 220 candidates are preparing for the ISSB at our institution,' said Tazbir.
Tashfia Badhan instructs the trainees for Half Group Task (HGT). Born and raised in Khulna, Tashfia's family resides in the district where her mother is a teacher of the Khulna BN School and College. 'I was actually influenced by the female officers who frequented the college,' she shared.
'A female army officer once asked me why I was not trying out for the army, after being impressed with my discipline and fitness,' she said. 'It was this incident, along with the military-like discipline that the college offered, that led me to try out for the army,' she adds.
Tashfia appeared in the most recent ISSB exam. At the training academy, she conducts two fitness programmes where the trainees complete 100 push-ups and two hundred sit-ups to attain the highest standard of physical efficiency required for the ISSB.
Besides all the hard work and living away from most of their families, these candidates also had to overcome family doubts and resistances just to come this far.
For instance, Raqiba's parents like the military life but were initially worried about their only daughter. 'She was still an HSC student when we denied her first request of joining the military,' said Zannatul. 'But she did not give up and convinced us about the bright future that such a job may hold for her,' she added.
'I was influenced by the lifestyle of my uncle and cousin who are serving in the army currently,' said Mayesha Sadia, another trainee taking preparation for the ISSB at Dhanmondi Park. She has been working hard at achieving physical fitness for the exams over the past three months. 'I enrolled in the training academy as it will make me quicker, smarter, more sacrificing and honest: all the qualities required to pass the exam,' she said confidently.
'The selection process for the position of an army officer is very sophisticated,' said a defence official with Directorate General of Forces Intelligence. 'The good thing about the selection process is that there are no fixed number of seats. So, if any candidate can fulfil the requirements through positive attitude, honesty, patriotism, strong personality, adequate intelligence, courage, integrity, sacrificing tendency, sense of honour and pride, they will get selected for certain,' he said.
'Female officers are performing very well alongside the male, currently,' he informed. 'They are highly organised and are capable of maintaining official work. They are also performing well as adjutants. There are more female officials in the signal core than in the army service and ordnance cores,' he said.
Once they are selected, they will undergo a 104-week long Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) course. This includes academic training, computer training, engineering, signal training and physical training. Field trainings are broken down into various phases like Kashti Pathar, Lalghora, Ranagati, Lauhakapat, Purbakon, Dhumketu and Padakkhep.
However, the severe training process and highly-demanding profession can take a toll on the personal life of most female officers. According to sources inside the army, around 25 of the 283 female army officials, recruited over the past ten years in the army, left their jobs due to family and physical problems.
The most common reasons were injuries like fractures in the leg or other parts of the body. Besides family problems, some officers simply dropped out due to the stress the profession demands.
'Bangladesh Army is not a child's play,' said one female lieutenant of the Army Service core. 'It is hard. In order to face these challenges, a female officer requires maximum determination; otherwise she will fail,' she added.
However, female officers are also being recruited in the sectors which demand less physical stress. The highly stressful cores are infantry, armour and artillery.
'Picking up a 7.62 mm. type 56 semiautomatic rifle, that weighs at least 3.85 kg, and training with it daily while also coping with the tension of shooting down targets are no easy task for any female soldier,' said a female lieutenant.
'However, I appreciate the fact that the government is recruiting more female soldiers into the military,' said a Captain serving in the infantry core. 'I appreciate the motive as females are bringing diversity to the army which will eventually facilitate the overall efficiency,' he concluded.
Serving with honour
· Around 283 female officers recruited in the last ten years
· Female candidates prefer the profession due to the respect, lifestyle and job security
· The number of training academies growing
· Most officers serving in signal and army service core
· 25 out of 283 female officers dropped out due to injuries and family problems
http://www.newagebd.com/2010/mar/26/mar26/xtra_inner3.html
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