On the eve of stepping into a new year, the country achieved a new milestone for women yesterday; when for the first time ever, a female flight cadet – Nabila Afsana Badhon – carried the national flag to lead the flag contingent in a President Parade of Bangladesh Air Force.
Also at the same occasion, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the parade’s salute as the chief guest, two of the country’s first female combat pilots took part in the flypast – their first such participation at a major event.
Only two weeks earlier, Flight Lieutenant Nayma Haque and Flying Officer Tamanna-E-Lutfi made history by becoming the first female combat pilots of the country.
Although they still have many phases of training left to do, the two female combat pilots said it was an honour to get the opportunity to be a part of yesterday’s flypast in the presence of the prime minister.
“We feel proud and honoured joining the President Parade,” Nayma told the Dhaka Tribune after yesterday’s President Parade of 70 Flight Cadet Course of Air Force. Tamanna also expressed similar feelings.
Both of them flew Bell-206 helicopters as they took part in the flypast, becoming the first female combat pilots in southeast Asia to fly this model of chopper.
It was also a big day for the 42 flight cadets who passed out from the Air Academy after two years of gruelling training.
But at the Jessore Air Force Academy parade ground yesterday, most of the limelight was on Flight Cadet Nabila, Flight Lieutenant Nayma and Flying Officer Tamanna – pioneers of a new generation of female Air Force personnel.
Once the parade, flypast and other formal programmes ended, parents of the newly graduated flight cadets, distinguished guests and senior Armed Forces officials came forward to congratulate Nayma and Tamanna on their achievement.
Former foreign minister and ruling party MP Dipu Moni was among those who congratulated them. An enthusiastic Dipu Moni brought out her smartphone and seized the opportunity to get a picture taken with the country’s first two female combat pilots.
Flight Cadet Nabila, who was the national flag bearer in the parade, is still undergoing training in the academy, while combat pilots Nayma and Tamanna are posted at Air Force’s Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman Base in Jessore.
Mili Rahman, wife of Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman, was present at yesterday’s event. Following the programme, she excitedly approached Nayma and Tamanna, saying: “Congratulations, you are our pride.”
When she found out that the two combat pilots were located in the base named after her husband, Mili became emotional. She told Nayma and Tamanna: “I am the wife of [Bir Sreshtho] Matiur Rahman, I am very glad to know that [where the pilots were based]. I pray for you, my best wishes for you.”
Air Force Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman died in a plane crash in 1971 while escaping from Pakistan to join the Liberation War. For his bravery, Matiur was awarded the country’s highest gallantry award Bir Sreshtho.
“We never met her [Matiur’s wife Mili] before, so we were exited too,” Tamanna told the Dhaka Tribune.
Interestingly, Nayma and Tamanna both said it was their childhood dream to become a combat pilot one day.
Twenty-four-year old Nayma’s inspiration was her grandfather Abdul Wahed Khandaker who was in the Royal Indian Air Force during the British colonial regime and Tamanna’s inspiration was her father Lutfor Rahman who is a retired group captain of Bangladesh Air Force.
Becoming a combat pilot was a “dream come true achievement” for Nayma and Tamanna; but both of them said they believed that this was also an “achievement for the country and nation.”
The two combat pilots said they wanted to further serve the country and were looking forward to contribute in different significant occasions as well as helping people in crises like natural disasters. They also expressed hopes of contributing to UN missions on behalf of Bangladesh.
Flight Lieutenant Nayma was commissioned in the Air Force in December 2011, while Flying Officer Tamanna was commissioned in December 2012. Now they want to complete their full training as military pilots.
The Army, Navy and Air Force introduced the recruitment of female officers during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s first tenure in 2000.
Hasina in her speech to the commissioned officer yesterday said: “I am so happy to know that two female Air Force officers by now have been able to fly by their own after completing their training successfully as first [female] military pilots.
“I hope, the Air Force will train more female military pilots in future,” said Hasina, adding that the Air Force would continue its contribution for the development of female officers.
Nayma and Tamanna said they believed that all females of the country should come forward to realise their own dreams.
“If there is will, there is win... The dream can come true,” said 23-year-old Tamanna with confidence; a sentiment that was also shared by her colleague Nayma.
