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Female army officers to be in command positions by 2002

By M Anwarul Haq
The nearly 1,00.000 strong Bangladesh Anny will induct female officers in its active ranks shortly.
The first duly recruited women cadet officers are expected to undergo a two-year extensive training beginning in December this year. They will Join the 47th BMA long course at the Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) at Bhatiary in Chittagong.
The first female army officers wiU be tn command positions by December, 2002. sources concerned said.
The Adjutant General's Branch of Anny Headquarters in an announcement says. “The government has decided to Induct women In the army. With a view to giving commission to the female candidates in Bangladesh Anny, selection ac-tivitles will commence soon."
It could not be no known how many women cadet officers would be selected for the BMA long course. Up to 150 cadets can attend the course. Recruit-
ments for the long courses are usually made twice a year.
The sources however said the number of female cadets in the first batch would depend on the response received.
Physical training for female cadets at the BMA will be slightly different from their male counterparts but all basic courses will be the same.
In the past, recruitment of female officers in the Army was restricted to the Army Medical Corps. But the recruitment this lime would open up a new front for women officers who could be Costed in different 'active ranches' as commissioned officers. However, they would not join the 'fighting sendees' but are mainly expected to be placed in 'staff positions,' the signal corps and other 'static jobs'.
Later, women officers are expected to be recruited for Education and Engineering Corps in the Army, one source said.
No decision has been taken as yet to recruit non-commissioned women Armed Forces
Personnel.
The decision to Induct female officers has been taken in the light of growing consciousness regarding gender equality worldwide. Bangladesh would be the third country in South Asia after India and Sri Lanka to induct female officers. However, the number of female officers in the Army Medical Corps in Bangladesh Is quite significant and nearly every third Medical Corps officer is a fe-ruale physician.
The requirements lor potential women army officers have been fixed on the basis of a new criteria. They must have a minimum height of five feet and minimum weight of 90 pounds. Their normal chest size Is to be 28 inches and in expanded form 30 inches. The applicants will have to be HSC passed In the second division or possess a Senior Cambridge certificate. The qualifying officers must be unmarried. It was not known how long they have to remain single.