Bangladesh's border security force will recruit its first batch of female troopers, a top official announced on Thursday.
Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Aziz Ahmed said 97 women will complete their training and be inducted into the force on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.
In a major step to empower women, the Bangladesh government has given its approval for recruiting women in the paramilitary force guarding the country's border.
Ahmed said steps were under way to recruit 100 more women for the force.
He said initially the women troopers will be posted to the border areas where females are often found indulging in drug trafficking.
With tens of thousands of members, the BGB has been guarding Bangladesh's 4, 427 km - long border line with India and Myanmar.