Kabita Khanam becomes Bangladesh's first female election commissioner

Former district and sessions judge Kabita Khanam has broken the jinx to become the first woman election commissioner in the history of Bangladesh.

History was scripted on Monday when President Abdul Hamid thrust her into the newly formed Election Commission.

Kabita, who hails from Naogaon, was elated at being made a part of history.

"This is the first. This is history. I'm very happy being a part of it," she said, bubbling with happiness.

In her immediate reactions to bdnews24.com, she said, "I was a judge for 31 years. My experience will come in handy."

Her husband, also a judge, died in 2011.

So far in Parliament and other spheres, leaders of political parties had expressed the desire to open the doors of the Election Commission to women as well.

This time with the selection of the six-member search committee by the president had already made it clear that a woman would debut into the EC.

With Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as speaker, the top three positions in the country's Parliament has come to be wielded by women.

Besides Leader of the House Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Raushon Ershad, deputy leader of parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury is also a woman.

Ruling Awami League's main rival, the BNP's Chairperson Khaleda Zia was the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh.