Country's first female paratrooper gets her badge

Capt Zannatul Ferdous successfully parachuting down from a height of 1,000 feet, becoming the country's first female paratrooper, inset, Brig Gen Mahbubul Haque pins a badge on Zannatul's uniform as proof of her accomplishment. Photo: STAR

Capt Zannatul Ferdous has become the first successful female paratrooper in Bangladesh.
Along with 17 others, Zannatul completed the special paratrooper course by jumping off a helicopter of Bangladesh Air Force from a height of 1,000 feet yesterday.
They jumped off the helicopter near Jalalabad Cantonment in Sylhet.
“It is very thrilling, I want to jump off again,” said an animated Zannatul upon landing. “Other female colleagues should come forward now. I was scared in the beginning but after finishing the course it has become easier,” she added.
Hailing from Bishnupur in Brahmanbaria, Zannatul Ferdous joined Bangladesh Army in 2007 after being commissioned with the 59th batch. She is now serving as a computer trainer at Bangladesh Military Academy.
Lt Col Saiful Islam, chief trainer of the paratrooper course, said there is nothing to bar female officers from joining the paratrooper course. Zannatul's success will surely encourage other females in the army.
Commandant of the School of Infantry and Tactics Brig Gen Mahbubul Haque said it is a milestone for the army as Zannatul became the first female paratrooper.