Bangladesh allows women soldiers to wear hijab: Report

Bangladesh's army has allowed women soldiers to wear hijab with their official uniforms, local media reported on Monday.

“A decision was made in principle … on Sept. 3, granting approval to willing female personnel to wear the hijab with their uniform,” local news agency Bdnews24 reported, citing Adjutant General's (AG) office.

A policy is being formulated for wearing hijab, said the AG's office which has asked interested soldiers to submit photographs of female personnel wearing the proposed hijab with their uniform by Sept. 26 for review.

The military refused to comment on the media report in response to a request from Anadolu.

Retired army officials, however, told Anadolu that it has always been legal for female officers to wear hijab.

“After the independence in 1971, there were lady army members only in the medical corps (doctors and nurses services) and they could wear hijab if they wanted. I saw nurses do their duty with hijab,” retired Brig. Gen. Shahedul Anam Khan told Anadolu.

Bangladeshi women were allowed to join the arms and service corps of the army after Gen. Mustafizur Rahman became chief of army in 1997. Officially, Bangladeshi women joined the army in officer ranks in 2000 and in soldier ranks in 2013.

Lady officers were not discouraged from wearing hijab, so there was no “ban” or “restriction” in the army to wear hijab but due to the nature of duty, soldiers were not encouraged to wear hijab, another retired brigadier general told Anadolu, wishing not to be named.​​​​​​​

According to the official order, to finalize the policy, women army members have been asked to describe in detail the actual sample of hijab compatible with the uniform (combat uniform, working dress, saree), the type of hijab fabric, color and measurement.