BB\\\'s IT leader

Nazneen Sultana, the country's first deputy governor of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), started her career in the central bank taking up the challenges of acquiring knowledge in the Information Technology (IT). It was the time when IT was not even the domain of men. And being woman, she had to go through extreme pressure to prove her ability.
She, however, with her courage and determination could successfully prove her ability as the first computer programmer of the Bangladesh Bank. And it led her to be the first woman IT head, first woman general manger and the first woman executive director of the country's central bank.
 "Being a woman I have to struggle a lot," said the deputy governor in an exclusive interview with the FE on the occasion of the International Women's Day.
She however expressed her happiness that scenario in many cases has changed. "At least a positive opinion persists in the society and the government about the ability of women."
Nazneen Sultana joined the BB in 1980 as class-1 officer in 1980 after completing her Masters in Physics from the University of Dhaka. Under her able leadership the central bank has automated its entire system employing more than its own 80 and other relevant international software.
Now foreign exchange policy, foreign exchange operation and foreign exchange investment, Credit Information Bureau and Human Resources and IT Operation and Communication Department of the Bangladesh Bank are fully automated.
Ms Sultana while recalling the problem she had faced in her banking career said,
"I had to go to Germany for training programme on computer programming soon after my joining in Bangladesh Bank. I spent almost one-and-a-half years. It was a great mental stress for me as I left my 42-month old son at home at the time when communications were not as easy as of now.
Now, Ms. Nazneen Sultana takes satisfaction in her role in the automation of the central bank. Due to her efforts, the central bank has become a green office making paperless transactions in core banking and also in monitoring operations.
"Since the beginning I have been involved with the mainstream IT activities of the central bank," she said.
She said the attitude of society towards women has been changing.
"Now males do not consider women as threats to their jobs," she added.
However, Nazneen, a freedom fighter, said women still have challenges to prove their ability.
"I know women can do it," she said blaming those who still question about the women's ability. She also feels great when finds encouragement among other women in the central bank to lead in various posts.