First ever Catholic woman appointed as top government official

Nomita Halder is the first Catholic woman to have reached such high position in the government position in Bangladesh. She joined the Ministry of Expatriates' Employment and Overseas Welfare as an acting secretary on July 23, 2017. The Catholic community in Bangladesh has congratulated Nomita on her promotion. Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario said: “It is a matter of joy and honour for the Christian community in Bangladesh for one of their members to be appointed to such a high position.” “She has disproved that minorities cannot get top government posts ,” the prelate told the Union of Catholic Asian News. Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country where only 0.4% of the 18 crore population are Christians. Nomita believes that only a secular government is capable of taking such a decision. She told the Dhaka Tribune: “To achieve such a success was not easy for me. I was born in a small village in Bagerhat. As a Catholic girl, it was very difficult for me to study in a Muslim-majority school. However, things are changing.” “I finished my SSC exams at a Catholic missionary school in Dinajpur and then obtained my HSC from Jessore Mohila College. Later, I finished my bachelor's degree from Bangladesh Agriculture University. So, from a very early age, I had to move from one place to another for my education.” “It was my goal to serve the nation and get a job in the government administration so that I could contribute to building a non-communal society,” she added. Nomita Halder was working as a personal secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from August 7, 2014. She joined public service on February 15, 1988.