At a time when the nation is enraged over the recent atrocities faced by women, we are proud of Nazma Begum—the Bangladesh Army’s first woman brigadier general. This is not the first time she has proven herself in a highly male-dominated profession. She was also the first female field ambulance commander in the Bangladesh army, the first female assistant director of medical services, and the only female in world history to have commanded a level-2 hospital twice. She is a powerful symbol of women empowerment for a society that is yet to break free from the shackles of patriarchy. It gives me tremendous pleasure to know that she has represented our country with dignity and determination.

Ananya Banerjee, Chattogram