Interview: Bangladeshi women should be inspired

DHAKA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- "More and more Bangladeshi women are involved in different professions, either in garment industry or in politics. This is a big progress for women empowerment in Bangladesh," said UN Under Secretary-General Ameerah Haq.

At an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently, the newly appointed UN under secretary general who is a Bangladeshi said that she hoped Bangladeshi women should be inspired by what she has achieved.

Over the past 34 years, Ameerah has been working for UN in different assignments in Indonesia, Afghanistan, Laos, Malaysia and Sudan. She is the highest-ranking UN staff from Bangladesh.

"As a Bangladeshi, I am happy and feel proud to take the post as UN under Secretary-General. I think it can be a source of inspiration to Bangladeshi women to work hard and realize their values," Ameerah said.

Bangladesh is still a male-dominated country though it has a female prime minister. Women take less posts in the government and non-government organizations compare with the men.

"Women can do well if they are given a chance," Ameerah said.

"Many Bangladeshi women are taking responsibilities of taking care of the families," she said.

Ameerah encouraged Bangladeshi women to be educated. "If a woman is educated, the whole family will be benefited," she said.

"A woman can have a better life when she is educated," she added.

Ameerah joined the UN in 1976 after getting two master's degrees in America.

Ameerah said that nowadays it is very competitive to apply for a post in UN headquarters. "As a applicant, you must have a good command of languages, you must follow the political and economic development in the world and have a good knowledge of it. That's the basic conditions," she said.

Ameerah has faced many difficulties in her career, saying "from2004 to 2009, I worked in war-ravaged Afghanistan and Sudan. It was quite difficult to work in these countries. There were so many frustrations."

"In those difficult times, strong will and perseverance helped me get through," she added.

Regarding to her new post in Timor-Leste as a special envoy of the UN secretary general which she will take very soon, Ameerah said "I am looking forward to taking the new post. It is a new challenge for me, but I will try my very best to work well."