By Asaduzzaman
Bangladesh’s National Poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam, penned the ideology that perennial well-being is a united effort, half of which is done by male and half by women; his words are embodied in Nasrin Sultana, a Fire Officer in the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense unit. She was the recipient of the President Service, which was given to her by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It is an award for her courageous service to disaster prone areas, victims of fires, and fire control.
Nasrin Sultana is from Khulna and was educated in Khulna BL College. In a family of seven siblings, she cited her elder sister, Hasina Begum as one of her supporters, “My sister relentlessly encouraged me to pursue this adventurous career path that is seldom taken by women. In a field dominated by men, I was adamant to graduate from the MSR course, Training of Trainers (TOT) and leadership training.” Her husband, Md. Yousuf Ali was also very supportive throughout her career. Nasrin recalls the encouragement that she received from Mr. Ali Ahmed Khan, the Director General of the Directorate of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense. “He provided me with the opportunity and space to prove myself as a leader. This recognition inspired me to strive for higher positions in my field even though I was skeptical and conscious of being a woman in the fire service field.”
Reminiscing on the momentous occasion, Nasrin stated, “It was a moment of immense pleasure because I was being recognized for my services against a disaster that plagues human beings on a daily basis. I felt a sense of profound success the moment the award insignia was pinned to my shoulder.” She chose this line of duty because her job involves being there for victims during a time that they are facing one of the greatest perils. Nasrin observes that her field of work involves round the clock service, “I strive to serve people through these tumultuous times. Fire-fighting is multidimensional in the sense that it entails controlling the flames and rescue operations, the latter being the greater challenge. Firefighters must have a sense of human bravery and humanity. These traits are the trademarks as one puts on the uniform.”
She emphasizes the ideology that human service is a profession that should not consider gender because it is about the service for humanity and the greater good, “When facing the most dangerous disasters, the evacuation and control of the people within the vicinity are imperative. In this regard, leadership is a necessary quality that both men and women develop with time and experience.” The recognition that she has received has compelled Nasrin to provide services and work arduously for the people she serves. She expressed her gratitude to her family, and fellow officers, “I am truly gratuitous to my fellow officers for entrusting me with the role and supporting me as a leader. Their trust in my ability and bestowing me with such a paramount responsibility has acted as a profound motivation for my service I provide as an officer.”
“When facing the most dangerous disasters, the evacuation and control of the people within the vicinity are imperative. In this regard, leadership is a necessary quality that both men and women develop with time and experience.”
Nasrin is elated with the current government’s initiative to recruit women into the work force and believes that this will shatter the barriers set for women in the fire service as well as other professions. She explains that as a child she had witnessed a fire in her neighborhood and it compelled her towards her career path. “Upon seeing the vigilant actions of the fire service workers through such a dreadful situation, I had known that this was the occupation for me. With the current government’s actions, women will be inspired to pursue their passions without thinking of the many obstacles that prevent their dreams from becoming a reality.” Nasrin hopes that more women will rise to the occasion and prove that they are all valuable contributors towards the betterment of our society and nation. She postulates, “That particular event was the marker that enthralled me to join the service and my childhood dream has become a successful career. The women of my generation have paved the way for females to join the workforce of their desires. I only hope and pray that this generation will continue that endeavor to level the playing field in every field of work.”
Furthermore, the Prime Minister’s vision towards a digital nation will benefit the Fire Service and Civil Defense of the nation according to Nasrin. She believes that this will make the national service recognized throughout the world, “Through the integration of state-of-the-art technology and innovative practices, the fire service will become a force that provides unparalleled services. It will lead to a much safer and more prepared Bangladesh in terms of safety and disaster relief. We will be able to save human beings, their properties and everything they treasure with the utmost efficiency in the future.”
She cites our homes as the foundation for any women to have a fulfilling and successful career. She expands upon this idea, “The winds of change start within each and every household. We must educate the general populous that the women in their households are equal contributors; their progress will lead to a more successful household and nation. Women should be allowed to pursue the career path that they have chosen.” Nasrin dreams of the day when women will be leaders, zealously participating in every work stratosphere of the nation.
Nasrin considers her profession to be unique and as such, full of unique challenges. She conveys that these provocations have compelled her to continually strive to become better, “My profession involves the assurance of human life. Therefore, my fellow fire service men and women take the responsibility of saving our fellow citizens and salvaging as much of their livelihood against the devastating effects of fires.”
