Khaleda Shahriar, Bangladesh’s first woman civil engineer

“Another new career for the women of Pakistan has been pioneered by East Pakistani girls, and once again they are from the East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology. Out of over 113 students who graduated from the Department of Civil Engineering this year two of them are girls -- the first engineers of the province and the first of their kind in Pakistan ...,” this is how Khaleda Shahriar was featured in Morning News on 14 December 1968.

The graduation of Khaleda Shahriar Kabir and Shirin Sultana from the then EPUET (now BUET) hogged the headlines of news media. Khaleda also recalled of being interviewed by Khan Ataur Rahman on the radio.

Being a pioneer means a lot to Khaleda, but for it they also faced many ordeals which Khaleda and the two others overcame successfully.

At that time, no one would take it easily for girls to study engineering, Khaleda told Prothom Alo in a recent interview.

“We wanted to study civil engineering, but the authorities suggested we study architecture. Civil engineering was considered a ‘male subject’ which required so many field visits,” she said. “But we were bent on studying civil engineering and challenged the university authorities.”

Another girl approached study civil engineering in 1962 but was rejected on the excuse that girls would not be able to participate in the mandatory one-month survey camp at Savar.

Finally the EPUET authorities gave in and allowed three girls -- Khaleda, Shirin and Manowara -- to take the admission test, and they came out with flying colours.

In today’s context, as we have so many girls studying in engineering, it is inconceivable to think even how uphill a task it was to get into the engineering faculty at that time, Khaleda recalled.

“On the first day of our joining, the physics department’s teacher Kamini Mohon introduced us to our classmates. Our friends were out and out helpful to us throughout our time in the university,” she said, adding, “If we could not carry some heavy instruments and our classmates were always there to lend a helping hand.”

After graduation, Khaleda joined a private firm and then joined the Water Development Board.

There too, she was a pioneer, because at that time she was only female engineer working in the commercial hub of Motijheel.

“There were no female employees in the area other than some Anglo-Indian women working as receptionists,” she added.

In my career of over three decades in Bangladesh Water Development Board, I had done various works and never felt that I was unable to do anything just because I was a woman.

Khaleda retired as additional director general of Bangladesh Water Development Board in December 2004.

Despite the pride of being one of the first female engineers of the country, Khaleda expressed her frustration as the girls of the country still have to fight the stereotyped perception that engineering is less suitable to girls.

“Only 20 per cent of the engineering students are girls and that is not enough. We must change the viewpoint that girls are incompatible to engineering.

“There is a misconception in our society that working mothers cannot handle family life. That is totally wrong,” said Khaleda. “Alongside my job I looked after my only daughter’s studies too. She is now a teacher of California State University. It testifies that you can manage everything alongside your job.”

Khaleda urged the government to set role models for the girl students so that they can break the barriers.

BUET authorities should employ more female teachers to encourage girls and their guardians for engineering studies, she said.

“Economic solvency is the key to women empowerment. And the country can’t be developed without creating equal opportunities for the women who constitute for more than half of the total population,” Khaleda said.

Let the empowerment of women be our resolve on International Women’s Day, Khaleda added.