Bangladesh Army’s Captain Kaniz Fatema, who was not defeated in the struggle of her life, has been promoted to the rank of Major.

On Saturday at the Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment, Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed promoted her to the rank of Major in the presence of all the formation commanders of Bangladesh Army.

This is the first time a paralysed woman in Bangladesh Army has been given such an honour, according to a statement of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Paralysed Kaniz Fatema is a role model for all women in the country and in the international arena, not just the Bangladesh Army. The story started on September 18, 2012 at the Bangladesh Military Academy. Kaniz met an accident during training and broke her spinal cord.

Kaniz Fatema joined the Bangladesh Army in 2011 with a dream of serving the country. Following the incident, it was not possible for her to continue the strict and orderly normal activities of the Army.

But this fearless woman was determined to work for the protection of the country’s interests without giving in to fate. Respecting this indomitable enthusiasm of Kaniz Fatema, Bangladesh Army commissioned her in the 69 BMA long course of 2013 with special consideration.

Though Kaniz Fatema used a wheelchair in her movement, but with her strong mental strength and the help of her colleagues, she was able to carry out her daily activities spontaneously. Her physical inability has been overcome with her will step by step. This rare honour bestowed on a fearless woman by the Bangladesh Army, a symbol of the confidence of the country and the people, will always be a role model in the advancement of every woman in the country and a shining example in the pages of history.

As part of the initiative of the empowerment of women by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the first regular recruitment of women officers in the army started in 2000.

In continuation of this, since 2015, various steps have been taken to accelerate the advancement of women in the country, including the addition of women soldiers, the issuance of unit commands to women officers, and the appointment of women officers to important positions in UN peacekeeping missions.

The nation with respect and will remember this special event at the behest of the Chief of Army Staff.

Kaniz Fatema was born in 1990 in Bingla Bari village of Debidwar upazila of Cumilla district. Her father’s name was Kalam Uddin Sarkar and mother Salma Begum. She passed SSC from Badiul Alam High School and HSC from Badiul Alam Degree College in Cumilla district. She holds a BSc in Military Studies from Bangladesh University of Professionals.

She was commissioned from Bangladesh Military Academy on December 24 in 2013. Her father died of a heart attack within 20 days of receiving the commission. She later took the helm of his family. So far, the whole family is dependent on her. The family includes her mother, two more sisters and one brother. She is the eldest of the brothers and sisters. She is bearing all the expenses including education of her brothers and sisters. 

Kaniz Fatema has been fulfilling all the responsibilities of the Bangladesh Army entrusted to her since the commission was received. She is currently serving in the 33 ST Battalion under the 9th Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army.