Women pilots of Bangladesh Army ‘herald new era’ by operating first flights

Though women pilots are not new in the country, two female apprentices of Bangladesh Army have for the first time flown aircraft.

Captain Nazia Nusrat Hossain and Captain Shahrina Bintea Anwar flew both solo and dual flights at the Army Aviation Group in Dhaka’s Tejgaon on Wednesday, an Inter Service Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) media release said.

The army officials flew training plane Cessna 152, the military’s media wing said.

“The inclusion of women pilots to Bangladesh Army for the first time in history will herald a new era,” it said.

The two women pilots will be a source of inspiration to the women in Bangladesh, it added.

According to the media release, Hossain and Anwar’s training at the Army Aviation started on Nov 16 last year.

They were commissioned in the Corps of Engineers of Bangladesh Army on Dec 24, 2009, after completing the long course of Bangladesh Military Academy.