It was 2:37pm yesterday when a white sedan suddenly stopped in front of a police box at Dilkusha in the capital’s Motijheel area. The elderly couple who came out of the car seemed nothing short of ecstatic.
The reason for their excitement – three female traffic sergeants who were on duty in the area at the time.
Shahana Rahman, former director of medical records at American Hospital Dubai in the UAE, was heartily congratulating the traffic sergeants when the Dhaka Tribune caught up with her.
“It is wonderful to see these young women making the brave decision to join the traffic police force,” Shahana told the Dhaka Tribune. Her husband, Aminur Rahman, agreed.
“We are delighted to see women engaging in professions like this in Bangladesh. More women need to come forward like them,” she said.
The retiree couple wished the policewomen the best before driving away.
The three traffic sergeants – Haimanti Sarker, Panna Akhter and Tanjila Khatun – were evidently overwhelmed by the praise, but welcomed it.
Haimanti, Panna and Tanjila are part of the first batch of female traffic sergeants who were accepted to a traffic policing training session last year. The batch comprised 28 recruits.
The new traffic sergeants have been on the job for only a month – they started on December 26. Of the 28 new sergeants, 21 have been deployed in the capital.
A novel experience on both sides
How has the experience of working as traffic sergeants been so far? “It is exciting,” all three said. “This is our dream job.”
“We have always wanted to make something of ourselves. We were all constables before we applied to join the traffic police,” Panna said.
“But sometimes we get strange looks. People look astonished … some even turn their head to look at us when they pass us by,” she added.
“We have been getting all kinds of attention. Some people appreciate that we are here; like Shahana ma’am, many women have congratulated us. But some have yet to grasp the idea of seeing women in this uniform. They stare at us as if we are aliens,” they laughed.
Making a statement
“I thoroughly enjoy people’s astonishment,” said Tanjila, who said becoming a traffic sergeant was a challenge for her, coming from Rajabagan village in Satkhira district.
“Growing up in a village, I was subjected to taunts and criticisms for wanting to have a career,” she told the Dhaka Tribune.
But Tanjila found her biggest support in her family.
“My brothers-in-law, especially, encouraged me to fulfil my dream to join police.” Her brothers-in-law are also in police.
“So those who used to taunt me, now admire me. My eagerness to take up such a challenging profession has helped me build my own identity,” said a proud Tanjila.
Haimanti and Panna also said their families supported them in achieving their dreams.
Besides the job, Haimanti and Tanjila are studying for master’s degree at city colleges. Panna has already completed her master’s.
They are currently living in the female dormitory at Rajarbagh Police Lines as they are still in their probationary period.
“We also do not have our motorcycles yet. We have to travel here by rickshaw,” said Haimanti.
Mohammad Shahjahan, the inspector stationed at the police box, said they would get their motorcycles soon.
The sergeants have faced some difficulties, but overall they have been enjoying their job and want to continue doing it with honesty and sincerity, they said.
“Because that is what people expect from us. That was what Shahana ma’am’s parting advice to us was: ‘Girls, be honest in your work.’”
