Dhaka: Colonel Dr Nazma Begum, the first female commander of a medical contingent in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast, has received a special award for her outstanding leadership.

Madam Aichatou Mindaoudou, special representative of the UN secretary general, conferred the honour on Col Dr Nazma, who was also selected by the UN for the ‘Military Gender Advocate of the Year’ award, and her team at a medal parade proramme on 16 August.

However, UN chief’s deputy special representative Mbaye Babacar CISSE handed over the award to her in the absence of Madam Aichatou Mindaoudou, said an ISPR release on Wednesday.

Force Commander Maj Gen Dideer L’ Hote and Deputy Force Commander Brig Gen M’ Bemba M Keita were also present.

In a statement, the UN thanked Bangladesh Army for Col Nazma’s outstanding leadership as the first female commander of a medical contingent and for assisting the world body.

Bangladesh got the first female contingent commander in the United Nations peacekeeping mission history as Col Dr Nazma Begum of Bangladesh Army led a 56-member Bangladesh medical contingent to Ivory Coast. They provided treatment at a level-2 hospital there.

Col Dr Nazma was the first female commanding officer of 21 field ambulance in the history of Bangladesh Army.