Bangladeshi girls selected Google leaders

Two Bangladeshi undergraduate students have been selected as leaders for Bangladesh chapter of Women Techmakers, Google's global programme and brand for women in technology.

They are Farah Nafiza, a Computer Science and Engineering undergrad at BRAC University, and Rakhshanda Rukham, final year student of Telecommunication and Electronics Engineering at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur.

Their selection was announced in a press release issued by Arif Nezami, Dhaka manager of Google Developer Group on Tuesday. Melissa Powel, programme manager of Women Techmakers programme, confirmed the news with an email.

Farah Nafiza told Prothom Alo that she has volunteered in various programmes of Google. "To encourage more women to take part in tech field, I took part in a number of activities of Google Developer Group," she said.

Rakhshanda Rukham has been working with GDG since 2012. "Not only in Bangladesh, women are also lagging behind in the tech field all over the world," she said.

Both are planning to work on expanding the Women Techmakers community in the country, they said.

Arif Nezami said although Women Techmakers programme was working as a part of GDG in Bangladesh for several years, this is the first time they have selected "leads".

"By creating these new positions, Google's presence in Bangladesh will increase further," he said.

In 2014, Women Techmakers conducted several workshops for women in various districts of Bangladesh including Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong. Ten events and various activities are lined up for the international women's day on 10 March..