The sky’s the limit for Tamanna and Nayma

Two Bangladeshi women helicopter pilots have won international acclaim. Flight Lieutenant Nayma Haque and Flight Lieutenant Tamanna-e-Lutfi have been working with the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo for over a year now. The UN has said that these two pilots have become role models for women in Congo.

The UN on Sunday brought out a special video where these two women describe the challenges they face as women pilots in the peacekeeping mission. They are the first two helicopter pilots of Bangladesh Air Force, being recognised as air force military pilots in December 2014.

In 2017 they went to Congo as UN peacekeepers there. They are also the first Bangladesh women pilots with the UN peacekeeping mission.

These women not only inspire women in Bangladesh, but are also inspiration to the women of the war-torn Sub-Saharan country Congo. The UN said that these two women had to face many challenges to become the role model for Congo’s women. Even now they have to overcome many dangerous obstacles every day. But they carry out all their work with success.”

The sky is the limit for Nayma and Tamanna.

In the video, Tamanna says, “I don’t see myself as a female, I’m a peacekeeper. I’m just a helicopter pilot because a machine doesn’t understand who is flying – a male or female.”

She says when she first joined the air force as a military pilot, her excitement was sky high. She felt proud that women were going ahead.

Nayma said that the women in Congo were inspired by them. The young girls see and and become more committed to their studies, she said, adding that women must understand that they have to fight for their rights.

These two pilots are proud to be dedicated to the cause of serving people. They said they would do everything to help women enter this profession.